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ALMOST AN ANGEL 




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ALMOST AN 
ANGEL 

BY 

MARY M. FRIEND HARWELL 



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New York and Washington 
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1908 





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uThary orn'K. 

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Copyright, 1908, by 

THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

1 . At Sunday-School . . 9 

II. A Friend in Need . . 24 

III. An Old Friendship Renewed 40 

IV. “Thou Shalt Love Thy 

Neighbor As Thyself ” . 56 

V. Whisperings of Love . 73 

VI. To the Rescue . . 90 

VII. In the Path of Duty . . 107 

VIII. The Opera . . .124 

IX. In Cupid’s Court . . 141 

X. The Forged Check . . 159 

XL At Ebb-Tide . . .177 

XII. A Turn of Fortune’s Wheel 194 

XIII. Wedding Bells . . 212 

XIV. In Peace Beneath the Peace- 

ful Skies 


229 


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Save wings, for HeavenJ^ 

John Keats, 

The Eve of St. Agnes. 




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ALMOST AN ANGEL 


CHAPTER I 

AT SUNDAY-SCHOOL 

“ The best love man can offer 
To the God of Love, be sure, 

Is kindness to His little ones, 

And bounty to His poor.” 

Mary Howitt. 

T he church bells were ringing out their 
glad invitation to the Sunday-school 
in a Southern city. 

Tap, tap, tap, sounded a little pair 
of crutches on the sidewalk, and on the 
crutches swung the figure of a boy. One side 
of his body was considerably contracted in con- 
sequence of severe and constant pain, yet the 
face of this sufferer was one of which a prince 
might have been proud. The skin was a 
clear, pale olive, the flesh as firm as marble, 
the features as regular and beautiful as those 
of a statue ; the hair clustered over the broad, 
low forehead in waves of midnight darkness, 
and the great brown eyes looked out from the 
shade of their long, curling lashes with an 
expression now joyous, now mournful. It was 
the same contrast that his life presented be- 


10 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

tween what it was and what it might have 
been. 

On this Sunday morning the streets were 
crowded with boys and girls, also wending 
their way toward the Sabbath-school. 

“ Good morning, Herbert Lee,” cried a 
bright, blue-eyed little maiden. “ Are you 
well this morning, and do you feel happy? ” 

“ Thank you, Edith, I am not in as much 
pain as usual; but,” a shade passed over the 
boy’s face, “ I am not so happy as the boys 
who can run about and play.” 

Who could blame the little fellow for this 
speech? Truly, the cross that he carried was 
of iron, studded with piercing nails, and it 
was so hard to bear it without murmuring. 

They had now reached their destination. 
The Sunday-school was held in the basement 
of the church, and, as the children entered, 
the atmosphere, warmed by a large heater 
on either side, afforded a pleasing contrast to 
the chill air they had left. A fountain played 
in the center of the room, and in the basin 
which surrounded it water-lilies were bloom- 
ing in all their creamy loveliness. 

On the superintendent’s desk, facing the 
entrance, a pyramid of flowers was arranged. 
The bouquets were tokens of affection from 
the children to their teachers, and they were 
always distributed to their respective owners 
as soon as the exercises were concluded. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


1 1 

There were snow-white and brilliant red 
camellia japonicas, fragrant violets and hya- 
cinths, chrysanthemums of all colors, and 
hot-house blossoms of every description. 

“How very beautiful!” said Herbert in 
a low tone, as he paused a moment in the 
doorway to view the lovely tableau in front 
of him, of which the happy, smiling faces of 
the children, clad in their bright, holiday at- 
tire, formed a very attractive portion. 

It was a scene which the boy had witnessed 
many times, but there was always enough 
variety in it to prevent monotony, and his 
truly poetic love of beauty made him rejoice 
in it. 

The services were about to begin, and Her- 
bert glided noiselessly to his seat in the class, 
and knelt reverently until the prayers were 
concluded. Then he joined in the singing 
with a will. Nature had made amends for 
his crippled condition by endowing the boy 
with the glorious gift of song. How his pure 
young voice poured forth its melody in that 
sweet old song, “Hark, hark, my soul! ” 

As he sang it, Herbert forgot that he was 
poor, that he was lame, that he had a sick 
mother. All the ills of life floated away 
from him, and he felt as if he had left this 
earth behind and joined the heavenly choir, 
as he poured out his whole soul in the last 
stanza : 


12 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ ‘ Angels, sing on ! your faithful watches keeping, 
Sing us sweet fragments of the songs above, 

Till morning’s joy shall end the night of weeping, 
And life’s long shadows break in cloudless love. 
Angels of Jesus, 

Angels of light. 

Singing to welcome 

The pilgrims of the night.’ ” 


“ What makes you look at Herbert Lee so 
hard? ” whispered one little fellow across the 
aisle to another. 

“ ’Cause he looks like the angel on my 
Chris’mas card,” was the reply. 

The singing was over, and Herbert’s 
teacher. Miss Helen Demoville, gave him a 
warm greeting. The chubby little hands of 
his classmates were stretched forth in wel- 
come, some of them filled with small bunches 
of violets and hyacinths, while others slipped 
crystals and alleys into his pockets, as well 
as small packages of ginger cakes and mo- 
lasses candy. 

“ Take this seat next to the fire, Herbert,” 
said Sidney Lyon, a plump little boy whose 
cheeks glowed with health. “ I ain’t cold a 
bit, and you are, I reckon.” 

Herbert’s bright, expressive face beamed 
with gratitude. 

“ That is right, Sidney,” his teacher smiled 
approvingly. “ Always be on the lookout to 
do a kind act, especially to those who are less 
fortunate than yourself. It is a habit which 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


13 

grows with practice, and it will develop a 
boy into a noble man.” 

Then they began their lesson. On the 
blackboard in front of them was the illustra- 
tion, beautifully drawn with colored crayons. 
It represented Simon the Cyrenian bearing 
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ex- 
pression on the man’s face was very lifelike, 
and the text in German letters was, “ Bear ye 
one another’s burdens.” 

Miss Demoville asked the questions on the 
lesson paper in regular succession. 

“ Now that is what I call an excellent les- 
son,” she said as she finished, “ and no one 
has recited more beautifully than Herbert 
Lee, although the rest of you have done quite 
well also. But something more than learn- 
ing the mere words of the Bible is necessary; 
that is, we must enter into the spirit of the 
lesson, and apply the truth to our own lives. 
Unless we do this, all the study we could give 
the Scriptures, even if we spent every moment 
from our births to our deaths in poring over 
them, would do us no good. It is only the 
religion which makes us better and purer 
Christians that is worth striving to attain. 

“ Now let us see what we can learn from 
the picture. In the first place we are told 
that the Jews compelled this man to carry the 
cross of Christ. Do you think, then, that he 
deserved any credit for his action? ” 


14 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Some of the boys answered, “ Yes, ma’am,” 
others said, “ No,” and the rest of them 
looked puzzled. 

“ I think that he did not,” said their 
teacher, “ for, unless we do a thing from a 
good motive, we are not entitled to any praise 
for what we do. Now if this man Simon had 
borne the cross for Jesus because he loved our 
Lord and wished to save Him pain, the act 
would have been very meritorious. But as 
he was forced to carry it, his motive was not 
charity or love, but merely obedience to those 
who had authority over him. ‘ Bear ye one 
another’s burdens,’ says the text. When we 
see any one in sorrow or sickness or suffer- 
ing,” — the eyes of the beautiful young woman 
rested lovingly on Herbert Lee, — “ it is our 
duty to do everything we can to comfort and 
relieve him. Even a kind word will often do 
more to cheer one than language can express. 
I am always glad when I see you perform any 
little act of kindness for your classmates, for 
that proves that you have the true spirit of 
love in your hearts. Do you not remember 
the words of the hymn? 


‘ Little deeds of kindness, 
Little words of love 
Make this earth an Eden 
Like the Heaven above.’ ” 


When the closing exercises were over, the 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


15 

superintendent approached Miss Demoville 
with his hands full of flowers. 

“ Sweets to the sweet,” he said with a smile. 
“ These are all for you, Miss Helen. See 
how popular you are! Gifts of affection 
from pupils In nearly every class In the 
Sunday-school.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Arrington. I am 
afraid that I do not deserve my good for- 
tune, but the children seem to understand 
my passionate love for flowers. Are they not 
beautiful, Herbert?” She held them close 
to the little lame boy for Inspection. 

“ They are lovely. Miss Helen, and they 
are so sweet! Oh, I wish that my mother 
could see them ! ” 

“Your mother, Herbert? My dear boy, 
she shall ! I will give them all to you to take 
home to her; and now will you not sit down 
and tell me all about her? I have long 
wanted to know, but I have never had an 
opportunity of asking you about her.” 

She glanced at Herbert’s face. The tears 
were streaming down his cheeks. She passed 
her arm around his shoulder. Her sympathy 
touched him, and he opened his proud, sensi- 
tive little heart as he had never before done 
to a stranger. 

“ Miss Helen, my mother Is sick all the 
time, and her cough gets worse every day, 
and we have only what my sister Emma can 


1 6 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

make by sewing. Late last night she car- 
ried home a piece of work it had taken her 
all the week to do, and the lady said she had 
forgotten to draw the money out of the bank, 
and so this morning we had no fire for mother, 
and nothing for any of us to eat.” 

Miss Demoville’s cheeks flushed with in- 
dignation. 

“ Herbert, who was this lady who kept 
back your sister’s hard-earned wages, and 
caused you so much unnecessary suffering? ” 

The boy hesitated a moment, then he an- 
swered slowly: 

“ Her name is Mrs. Fairfax, Miss Helen.” 

“ Mrs. Fairfax! I know her well, and she 
is one of the richest ladies in the city. How 
can people act so? ” 

She pressed her hand to her forehead, and 
thought for a few moments. 

“ Herbert, may I go home with you this 
morning? ” 

The boy’s eyes sparkled. 

“ Oh, if you will. Miss Helen I Mother 
will be so glad to see you. I have spoken 
of you so often to her.” 

The air outside the church was keen and 
cold, as the wind was blowing from the north. 
Miss Demoville glanced at the thinly clad 
little figure at her side. 

“ Wrap this around your throat, Herbert,” 
she said, handing him her long fur boa. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


17 

“ You’d better keep it, Miss Helen.” But 
when she insisted he took it. 

“ Now, Herbert, you have not told me 
where you live,” she said presently. 

“ It is on the corner of Jefferson and 
Buchanan streets, ma’am.” 

“You don’t say so! Why, that is more 
than two miles from here. Surely, you did 
not come all that distance on those poor little 
crutches ? ” 

Herbert nodded. “ I always walk both 
ways ! ” 

As Miss Demoville patted his dark, silky 
hair, her eyes filled with tears. 

“ What do you say to a ride, Herbert? I 
may not hold out as well at walking as you 
do, you know.” 

“ All right. Miss Helen.” The boy’s face 
glowed with delight. “ That is a pleasure 
I do not have very often, except when Dr. 
Herndon takes me in his buggy.” 

The car they took was empty, as every one 
was going in the opposite direction to church. 

“ Now, Herbert, you will have an oppor- 
tunity of entertaining me. Will you tell me 
something of your family history? ” 

“ Yes, Miss Helen. You have been so 
kind to me that I am glad to do anything I 
can for you. My mother speaks very seldom 
of her younger days, for she says it makes 
her feel sad to think of them. But I have 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


heard my sister say that our grandfather was 
a baronet, and that he lived in a beautiful 
castle in England, and was wealthy. 

“ When our mother grew to be a young 
lady. Miss Helen, she met my father, who 
was a handsome and talented artist; but he 
was very poor indeed, although he hoped to 
win fame and fortune by his pictures. My 
grandfather was bitterly opposed to his 
daughter’s marrying her lover, for there was 
a man of great wealth who wanted her to be 
his wife. But she and my father loved each 
other so well that they agreed to meet at the 
little village church, early one morning in 
June, before the inmates of the castle were 
awake, and they were married very quietly, 
and then my father took his bride on the 
train to Liverpool, where they took an ocean 
steamer and came over to America. When 
my grandfather knew that his daughter had 
disobeyed him he vowed that she should never 
have a dollar of his money. 

“ My father opened a studio in New York, 
and for a long time he succeeded splendidly, 
and he received a great deal of money for 
his paintings, and his wife and little daugh- 
ter lived in comfort and style. Then I was 
born. Miss Helen, and one day soon after, 
my father was taken suddenly ill and died. 

“ Then my mother had a hard struggle 
with poverty. She taught school for a long 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


19 

time, and managed to support herself and her 
two children. But after a while she took a 
bad cold, and it settled on her lungs. The 
doctor said she must try a Southern climate, 
so we came here, and for a time she seemed 
better; but for the last year she has been 
growing worse all the time, and I do not see 
how she can live much longer. Oh, Miss 
Helen, you do not know how much it dis- 
tresses my sister and myself to feel that we 
are not able to give her all she needs I ” 

The little fellow sobbed as if his heart 
would break. Miss Helen put her arm 
around him. After a time he looked up. 

“ Here is the place where we ought to get 
off.” A short walk brought them to their 
destination. 

“ Can it be possible that this refined-looking 
boy lives in such a dwelling as this? ” thought 
Miss Demoville. 

It was indeed a miserable abode. It con- 
sisted of one low room, with a shed that had 
never been painted. There was a door but 
no windows, and the whole structure looked 
as if it might tumble down if you stared at it. 

“ It is not exactly a palace, is it, Miss 
Helen?” Herbert said with a grim little 
smile. “ Walk in, Miss Helen,” he said, 
holding the rickety old door open for her. 
Through the cracks in it and those in the wall, 
which would have admitted the body of a 


20 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


cat, the wind swept. Yet there was no fire 
on the hearth, and down the wide chimney 
rushed gusts of air which shook the neat cut 
paper on the mantel. There was an air of 
scrupulous neatness about the room, which 
was all the more apparent on account of its 
poverty-stricken appearance. 

In the farther corner of the room stood 
a bed on which a woman reclined. Over her 
bent a young girl, trying in vain to relieve 
a severe spell of coughing which had attacked 
the patient as soon as the door was opened. 
When the coughing had somewhat subsided, 
Herbert went up closer, and pressed an af- 
fectionate kiss upon his mother’s forehead. 

“ Mamma, this is my dear Sunday-school 
teacher you have heard me speak of so often, 
and now she has come to see you. Miss 
Demoville, this is my sister Emma.” 

Mrs. Lee was still coughing too hard to be 
able to speak, but the soft pressure of her 
delicate blue-veined hand and an expressive 
glance from her beautiful brown eyes, so 
very much like Herbert’s, assured Miss De- 
moville of her welcome. 

Emma’s greeting was far more self-pos- 
sessed than that of most girls of her age would 
have been. Indeed, she had so much dignity 
and grace, and her appearance was so aris- 
tocratic, that involuntarily Helen Demoville 
thought of the lordly castle in England, and 
the rich heritage that Herbert had told her 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 21 

that his mother had given up for love’s sweet 
sake. 

“ I feel very grateful to you for your in- 
terest in my son, Miss Demoville,” Mrs. Lee 
said, as soon as she could speak. “ Your 
name has become a household word with us, 
and I thank you greatly for making the Sun- 
day-school so attractive to Herbert, for it 
is one of the very few pleasures the poor 
child can have. At times he suffers terribly 
with white swelling, and he is often confined 
to his bed for weeks at a time. The suffer- 
ing of my child is a greater affliction to me 
than my own sickness, I assure you. Miss 
Demoville.” 

Helen had blushed when Mrs. Lee praised 
her so highly. 

“ I have done only my duty, Mrs. Lee, and 
I am afraid I have not performed that well, 
for I should have called on you weeks before 
when your son first entered the school. Her- 
bert is one of my brightest pupils, always at- 
tentive and obedient, perfect in his recitations, 
and very popular with the other boys.” 

Her face was glowing with enthusiasm, 
and Mrs. Lee thought it was the most beau- 
tiful countenance she had ever seen. There 
was a wealth of light golden-brown hair 
tastefully arranged at the back of her head. 
Her fair forehead, so transparent that the 
blue veins formed distinct crescents on her 
temples, was adorned with a profusion of 


22 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


little silky rings which did not obscure its 
fine contour. Her dark blue eyes reminded 
one of moist violets, and they looked at one 
with a frank, pleasant expression. Her eye- 
brows were arched and delicately pencilled, 
and her lashes were long and fringed, and 
were much darker than her hair. Her nose 
was of the pure Grecian type, her chin full 
and well rounded, and her cheeks glowed 
with the hue of health. But her mouth was 
her most charming feature. The lips were 
like coral, full, arched, and with dimples in 
the corners, and they closed lightly over teeth 
like rows of pearls. 

“ How beautiful ! ” was Mrs. Lee’s invol- 
untary exclamation. Then, as she saw the 
crimson tide that covered her visitor’s face 
from brow to neck, she exclaimed: “ Ah, for- 
give me ! But you can imagine that one who 
has been an invalid for years must rarely 
come in contact with anything very pleasing 
to the senses. I think I was born with an 
intense love of beauty, and I married an artist 
who cultivated and intensified the feeling until 
it has grown into a passion.” 

The young woman only smiled. She was 
not a vain person, yet she was perfectly aware 
that Nature had been quite liberal to her. 
Her mirror told her this, she heard it also 
from her numerous friends and her lovers. 

“ I believe you came from England, Mrs. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


23 

Lee,” said Helen, by way of introduction 
to a conversation. 

“ Ah, yes, from that dear old country 
where the aristocracy grows and flourishes; 
where there are lords and ladies, and where 
the poor are never allowed to suffer for the 
want of attention. Would you like to hear 
about the days when I was a young girl. Miss 
Demoville? ” 

“Indeed, I would; more than I can tell 
you.” 

How the cheeks of the invalid glowed and 
how her eyes sparkled as she told of the 
balls and parties she had attended in London, 
describing her own dress and that of many 
celebrated ladies of that period, whose names 
were familiar to Miss Demoville, who lis- 
tened with rapt attention, scarcely heeding 
the flight of time. At length she took out 
her watch. 

“ Dear me, I had no idea how late it was! 
It is a quarter past one o’clock, and we dine 
at two on Sundays. I must not keep my 
father waiting, so I will say good morning.” 
She pressed each hand of the ladies cordially, 
and gave Herbert a kiss. 

When she left the house it seemed to the 
inmates as if a ray of sunshine had departed, 
or, in the beautiful words of Longfellow: 

“ When she passed, it seemed like the ceasing of ex- 
quisite music.” 


CHAPTER II 

A FRIEND IN NEED 

“ In all this earth there is not one 
So desolate and so undone 
Who hath not rescue if they knew 
A heart-cry goes the whole world through.” 

Edwin Arnold. 

‘‘T DO not think that I ever had a more 
I delightful visit,” thought Helen. 
M “ But Mrs. Lee did not make any 
allusion to her destitute circumstances, 
and I felt as if I could not broach the 
subject to one whose appearance is so ele- 
gant and refined. Yet something must be 
done to relieve their wants immediately, or 
they will certainly starve and freeze. Let me 
see how I can accomplish it. I wonder if 
there is a grocery anywhere in this neighbor- 
hood? These small shops usually keep a lit- 
tle of everything, including fuel, in their 
stock, and the proprietor generally lives in 
or near them, so that it would be easier to 
make a few purchases on Sunday here than in 
the business portion of the city, where the 
police are more vigilant. ‘ The end justifies 
the means,’ in this instance at any rate. I 
24 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


25 

wish that I could find somebody to direct me 
where to go. The name of this place should 
be ‘ Sleepy Hollow.’ Perhaps every one has 
gone to church, but it is time that they were 
beginning to return.” 

As she spoke she saw a very queer-looking 
object approaching her. When it drew nearer 
it proved to be a tall, gaunt woman between 
sixty and seventy years of age. She was 
dressed in a faded green cotton skirt with five 
narrow, gathered ruffles at the bottom, which 
flapped around her bony ankles and was short 
enough to reveal two very knotty feet en- 
cased in a patched pair of man’s shoes, with 
elastic on the sides. On her body she wore 
a loose blue flannel sack which touched her 
nowhere except in the neck. Her hands were 
squeezed into a pair of spotted, bright yellow, 
undressed kid gloves, while her remarkably 
small, narrow head was surmounted by a 
fussy-looking royal purple bonnet, covered 
with ostrich plumes, ribbon and flowers. She 
carried a gaudy red parasol, embroidered with 
white, which had several ribs sticking out. 

As they met. Miss Demoville paused, with 
the intention of asking the way to the nearest 
grocery; but before she could do so, the old 
woman’s voice piped out, in a shrill, nasal 
whine : 

“ Hit ’pears lak I’ve seed yer some’res 
before. I knows that hat, sure’s my name’s 


26 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Eleanor loly Peniny Piminty Burns. Yes, 
ma’am, that’s my entitle, the hull on it. I got 
five cows and five niggers fer my name, but 
hit don’t do nairy bit er good ter talk erbout 
that now, sence the Yankees is sot ’em free. 
But we used ter be rich, I kin tell yer. Father 
and mother used ter own a big plantation 
down yander in Massissip on the Chickasahay 
River. They is charcoal burners down there, 
but we didn’t burn no charcoal, I kin tell yer. 
I used ter milk nineteen cows of a mornin’ and 
er evenin’, an’ we sol’ twenty-one pats er 
butter every week. But I must er seen yer at 
Dr. Markham’s church. Yes, ma’am, I goes 
there, ef I does look poor and plain, and I 
don’t set in no free pew, nuther. Miss Ben- 
nett hires a pew, an’ she lets me set with her, 
’ca’se ther’ hain’t nobody ’cep’in’ her an’ her 
old man, and he seldom ever comes ter church, 
’ca’se he runs a great big gambling saloon, and 
Sunday mornin’s is his busiest time. But jes’ 
lis’en at me er tellin’ tales outen school. Fust 
thing I know the perlice ’ll git er holt er hit, 
an’ close ’im out, all on ercount er my long 
tongue. He give me these shoes er hisn,” 
sticking out her foot, “ an’ she gin me this 
waist, an’ Miss Owen give me this here skirt 
I got on, an’ this here bunnit was Miss Ran- 
dolph’s mother’s, an’ Miss Cap’n Jinks give 
me these gloves and this umberill’. They 
don’t none o’ them fit me very well,” pulling 


/ 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 27 

her sleeve tight enough to show the outline 
of her arm, no larger than a broomstick, “ but 
they’ll keep off the cold, an’ I’m thankful fer 
anything.” 

She paused a moment for breath, and Helen 
took the opportunity of clipping in while she 
had a chance. 

“ Mrs. Burns, I want you to tell me if there 
is any place near here where I can buy some- 
thing to eat for a family in whom I feel a 
deep interest.” 

“ Yes, ma’am, hit’s them Lees, ain’t it? I 
knowed hit was soon as ever you spoke, ’cause 
the little lame boy, Herbert, they calls him, 
goes ter Dr. Markham’s Sunday-school, an’ 
I reckon you’re his teacher he’s allers er talk- 
in’ erbout. Them Lees is the nicest folks I 
ever come acrost, an’ I’ve seen er heap er the 
quality. I quilts comforts an’ scrubs fer ’em, 
yer know. But these is the proudest folks 
/ ever seed. I verily believe they’d starve 
ter death before they’d ask anybody fer a bite 
er victuals. I wish ter the Lord I had some 
money; I’d divide with ’em handsomely. Ter 
my certain knowledge they hain’t got er bite 
er anything ter eat in the house this day, 
’ca’se I run over there a little while this 
morning, an’ Herbert was er cryin’ ’cause 
there warn’t no breakfast fer him ter eat; 
‘ An’ I can’t miss Sunday-school, Miss Burns,’ 
says ’e, ‘ fer hit’s the onliest pleasure I has,’ 


28 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


says ’e, the poor little cripple. So I runs 
home ter see ef there was any potatoes lef’ 
from our breakfas’. But Burns, the greedy 
pig, had eaten the last mouthful er ’em. ‘ You 
hadn’t oughter done it,’ says I, snatchin’ the 
tin plate he was er licken’ ter git the last 
drop er bakin grease, an’ rappin’ ’im over 
the head with it. ‘ Boo-hoo,’ says ’e, like er 
spoiled child, but he dassent ter hit me back. 
‘ I reckon I got er right ter eat ’em,’ says 
’e, ‘ w’en I planted ’em an’ hoed ’em an’ dug 
’em,’ says ’e. ‘ You never would er done it,’ 

says I, ‘ ef I hadn’t er stood over yer an’ 
made yer,’ says I. ‘ Hit’s all you Irish is fitten 
fer,’ says I, ‘ is ter raise yer Irish praties^ as 
yer calls ’em*’ ‘ You’re er hoosier,’ says ’e, er 
gitten’ mad like. ‘ Say that ergin,’ says I, 
pickin’ up er chunk er light-’ood. ‘ Ef I 
thought I had air drop er Irish blood en mer 
veins,’ says I, ‘ I’d tek the scissors an open 
mer skin an’ let hit run out ef hit killed me.’ 
‘ Yer married er Irishman,’ says ’e, sassy like, 
but er shakin’ in ’is shoes fer fear I’d hit ’im 
wid the knot er wood. ‘ That was ’ca’se I 
didn’t had no better sense,’ says I. ‘ You 
bet, hit never would er happened, nohow, ef 
you hadn’t er got ol’ Jake Mahone ter do 
yer talkin’ fer yer,’ says I. ‘ Yer ain’t got 
sense ernough ter court a woman, wid yer 
blunderin’ Irish brogue,’ says I. ‘ But I wus 
er great big fool,’ says I, ‘ the day I ever let 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


29 

the priest marry me to er whimperin’ ol’ 
idgiot like you,’ says I. He never opened ’is 
mouth. I kin allers shet ’im up er talkin’ 
that er way. ‘ Now,’ says I, ‘ you sets ther’ 
an’ roasts them pertaters tell I comes back 
from church,’ says I, ‘ an’ I’ll crack you over 
the head with this stick ef you lets ’em burn,’ 
says I. But come in, this is my house. 
Walk right in, an’ rest yerself. I’m kinder 
tired myself. Four mile is a right good 
piece fer an old lady sixty-nine year old ter 
walk.” 

She threw open the door of a building orig- 
inally intended for the kitchen of a tall white 
house, which was now occupied by colored 
people. 

“ The bottom rail is laid on top sence the 
surrender. Niggers in the white house, and 
white folks in the kitchen. Walk right in, 
ma’am, an’ make yerself ter home.” 

Miss Demoville shook her head. 

“ Father will be waiting dinner for me, so 
I haven’t time. Please tell me the way to the 
place where I can get the groceries.” 

“ Yes, ma’am, certainly. I’d go with yer 
merself ef I wasn’t jest fairly broke down. 
Burns,” she called to a meek-looking little 
Irishman, sitting on a stool near a very poor 
fire, “put down that pipe you are smoking; 
who gave you tobacco without my leave, sir? 
Get your hat, sir, and show this lady the 


30 ALMOST AN ANGEL , 

way to Mr. Hobson’s, and step lively, sir; 
do you hear me, sir? ” 

Burns snatched a worn fur cap from its 
peg on the wall, stuck it on his head and 
started off at a brisk pace in front of Miss 
Demoville. 

“ Don’t go so fast. Burns,” shouted his 
wife, standing in the doorway, and putting 
both hands up to her mouth; “ the young lady 
can’t keep up with ye. Lord ’a’ massy! Ye 
ain’t no mortal ’count on top er this yearth, 
noway. Ye ain’t got no more gumption ’an 
er chil’ 1 ” 

A short walk brought them in sight of a 
closed building, in front of which hung a sign 
which read: 

pSIAH HOBSON, 

Fine Family Groceries. 

“You can go back now, Mr. Burns,” said 
Miss Demoville. “ I am very much obliged 
to you,” and she slipped a quarter of a dollar 
into his hand. 

“ A t’ousand t’anks, miss.” The old fellow 
bowed until he nearly touched the ground, as 
he thrust the coin into the bosom of his flannel 
shirt. “ Don’t tell ’er you gave it ter me, 
miss, fer I want ter git er bit dram ter warrum 
de ol’ feller’s ’art de morrer,” with an idiotic 
grin. “ Yer wouldn’ belave hit, miss, but 
she’d bate me ef she knowed hit.” With a 
whine he limped away. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


31 

Ting-a-ling,” sounded the door bell at 
the side of the store, as Miss Demoville gave 
it a pull. 

“ I have no money with me, so I will have 
to ask for credit for the first time in my life; 
I wonder if they will refuse it?” 

To her great relief, the round, rosy face of 
the individual who answered her summons 
was a familiar one. Where had she seen it 
before? 

“ Miss Helen Demoville, ef I’m er foot 
high! Why, bless my buttons. I’m took clair 
offen my feet! How do you do, ma’am? I 
have not seen you, ma’am, for several years; 
not sence I was clerking for Butterworth, 
Sweetser & Co., and you used to buy candy 
on your way home from Mrs. Latham’s 
school. Maybe you remember me, Josiah 
Hobson’s my name, ma’am. You used to be 
one of our best customers in those days.” 

Helen laughed. 

“ I was very fond of chocolate caramels 
then. Yes, your face does seem familiar to 
me, Mr. Hobson, although I do not remember 
having heard your name before. But have 
you not grown stouter than you were then? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am, considerably. I think it is 
because I don’t take as much exercise as I 
used to. You see, I used to walk to and from 
my work three times a day, and that sort o’ 
kept my flesh down. But sence I’ve set up 


32 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


in business for myself, me and my wife live 
over the store to save expenses, you know, 
and I don’t get a chance to get out in the 
streets, except of a Sunday. It’s my dinner 
time now, or you would not have found me at 
home. But what can I do to serve you, 
ma’am?” rubbing his hands together in a 
fashion he had when waiting upon customers. 
“ For I am very sure you have come to see 
me upon business, if it is the Sabbath day.” 

“ I have, Mr. Hobson. I came to ask a 
very great favor of you. I know that the 
Sunday laws of this city are very strict, and 
I do not want to be the means of having you 
arrested, but I want you to see if you cannot 
contrive some way to let me have something 
for a poor family.” 

“ It’s the Lees, ma’am, isn’t it? Yes, I 
thought so, ma’am. Best people I ever saw, 
ma’am, but as proud as a peacock; not like 
the pride of the rich, ma’am, but like a few 
of the poor we come across occasionally in 
our business. Why, often and over again 
I’ve said to that young girl, ‘ Miss Lee, while 
it is not my custom to give credit, my terms 
being cash, as that sign over the counter says, 
yet I am willing to make an exception in your 
mother’s favor. Your credit, ma’am, is good 
in this store for any amount you choose to 
call for.’ ‘ Thank you, Mr. Hobson, you’re 
very kind,’ says she, civil like; ‘but mother 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


33 

says she will not have anything she cannot 
pay for when she buys it.’ And they have 
carried it out, even to a nickel. But I am 
keeping you standing, ma’am. I would ask 
you into our parlor, but my wife is sick abed, 
ma’am. Shall I take your order, ma’am?” 
drawing a note-book from his pocket. “ You 
see I can take the things from my own pantry 
and replace them in the morning.” There 
was a sly twinkle in his eye. 

“ I have no money with me, Mr. Hobson, 
so I shall have to ask you for credit.” 

“That’s all right, ma’am. You can have 
just what you want and pay me whenever you 
please. There isn’t a cleverer gentleman in 
the State than your father. Colonel Demo- 
ville. Why, I fought in his regiment during 
the war,” triumphantly. “ You ask him if 
Josiah Hobson wasn’t a brave soldier. Why, 
there’s where I got the end of this here 
thumb shot off, in the terrible Battle of Seven 
Pines. But how high do you want to go, 
ma’am? ” 

“ Not over five dollars,” Miss Demoville 
replied, remembering that was the amount 
she had left of the quarterly allowance her 
father always gave her. “ And I think we 
had better put in cooked food, crackers and 
loaf bread, if you keep it, and canned tongue 
and ham; a little cheese and a few sardines 
would be very good for Mrs. Lee, for she 


34 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


needs rich food. And do you keep wood and 
light-wood, Mr. Hobson?” 

“ I am out just now, Miss Demoville, but 
I’ll take some from , my own woodpile; and 
I’ll add a few oranges and a tumbler of jelly 
as a present from me, and I will take a little 
memorandum of the items, and put them in a 
basket, and carry them around myself just as 
soon as I eat my dinner; rny boy is off to-day. 
And shall I say your compliments, ma’am? ” 

“ If you please, do not, Mr. Hobson. 
They did not mention their circumstances 
to me; I only found it out through the little 
boy who is in my Sunday-school class; so I 
should be afraid of mortifying them by show- 
ing them that I had observed their poverty.” 

Very well, ma’am; and I hope the Lord 
will reward you. Yes, ma’am, that is the 
way to the cars. Much obliged, ma’am, and 
I hope you’ll call again. Good morning, 
ma’am,” with quite a low bow and a military 
wave of the hand. 

“ Good morning, Mr. Hobson. Thank 
you for giving me credit. I will call and 
pay you in a day or two.” 

She had to walk rapidly to catch the next 
car. It was empty, the tide of travel being 
again in the other direction. Helen was tired 
from standing so long in the cold wind, and 
the car was anything but comfortable. She 
was ravenously hungry, having eaten very 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 35 

little breakfast in her haste to get to Sunday- 
school in time, and altogether, she felt quite 
miserable. 

The temptation that never fails to assail 
us under such circumstances came to her in 
the form of a regret for the money she had 
promised to pay out for the Lees. 

“ It was the last five dollars I had,” urged 
Selfishness. “ Perhaps it would be wiser in 
me to get Mr. Hobson to send the bill to 
father’s office, and let him pay it.” 

“ But that would not be any charity on my 
part, if I did that way,” urged her better self, 
“ and father is hard pressed for money al- 
ready; I know it because his countenance 
looks so troubled. Besides, his allowance to 
me is very liberal, and it is quite as much as 
he can afford, and it ought to cover my fund 
for charity, as well as all my other expenses; 
and there would be no merit in my doing 
good unless there was some self-denial exer- 
cised on my part.” 

“ But how about taking Fanny and Jennie 
Trueheart to the matinee?” still pleaded 
Selfishness. “ They have taken me several 
times, and the season closes soon, and I ought 
to show them some attention. I am afraid 
the girls will be disappointed about it.” 

“ How can they be when I have not men- 
tioned the subject to them? And if they 
were, what is it for three persons to give up 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


36 

a few hours of a pleasure they enjoy quite 
often in order to keep three others from freez- 
ing and starving? Oh, Helen Demoville, I 
am afraid you are growing weak and worldly 
and selfish and unworthy to be called a 
Christian! I am growing quite ashamed of 
you, I am, indeed.” 

When she reached home and rang the door 
bell it was answered by a slim, dark servant 
who had been Helen’s nurse. 

“ What for mammy’s lamb stay so long 
at de chu’ch? Venus say de dinner done 
mos’ dry up on de stove, an’ she jes’ mos’ on 
her head ter get er baptizin’ ober de creek 
at her chu’ch, ’ca’se her darter done got 
’ligion an’ come t’rough, an’ er gwine ter be 
baptized dis berry day, an’ Jeems done ask 
yer par ter let ’im off, an’ he done gone, 
’ca’se he gwine marry Viney, an’ I gwine 
wait on de table an’ tek his place tell he come 
back dis ebenin’ ter light de gas, ’ca’se I 
cyarn’t git up an’ down lak w’en I was er gal, 
’ca’se my bones is stiff wid de rheumatis’.” 

“ I’ve been somewhere. Mammy. Where’s 
papa? ” 

“ He’s in de lib’ry. B’en er waitin’ fer 
yer mos’ an hour.” 

“ Well, you can have dinner now. I will 
eat with my hat on, so that Venus can get off 
right away.” 

She stole softly into the library. Her 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


37 

father was sitting by a comfortable fire read- 
ing a newspaper. She tiptoed up to him, and 
kissed him on the forehead. 

‘‘Well, daughter, where have you been? 
This is not Communion Sunday, is it? ” 

“ I have not been to church to-day, papa.” 

“Not been to church?” Colonel Demo- 
ville’s tone expressed the greatest surprise. 
“ Why, I never knew you to stay away from 
church on the Sabbath day before. Why, 
Helen I How could you do such a thing? ” 
Like most gentlemen who have their praying 
done by the ladies of their families, the old 
gentleman had very strict ideas on the sub- 
ject of religion — for other persons. 

“ I never missed attending the services 
of the church on Sunday before,” Helen 
said slowly. “ But to-day I found a higher 
duty.” 

“ A higher duty than to serve your 
Maker?” asked her father in surprise. “I 
was raised to think that there was no higher 
duty than that ! ‘ What is the chief end of 

man ? ’ they used to ask us in the catechism. 
‘ To serve and glorify God,’ or something 
of the kind, was the answer; it has been so 
long ago I have forgotten.” 

“ Well, papa, let me eat my dinner first, 
I am awfully hungry and the servants are 
anxious to get off to the baptizing, and then I 
will tell you my story, and let you judge 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


38 

whether or not I was right in neglecting my 
religious duties for once to serve others.” 

When the meal was over, Helen seated 
herself on a stool at her father’s feet near 
the fire. 

“ Let me sit here, papa, while I talk to you. 
I have been so chilled to-day that I feel as 
if I should never get warm again. Well, 
then, ‘ to begin at the beginning,’ there is a 
beautiful little boy in my class at Sunday- 
school who is lame, and who walks two miles 
each way on crutches to the Sunday-school, 
which seems to be the only pleasure he has. 
When the exercises were over I gave him 
some flowers to carry to his sick mother. 
Then he burst into tears, and by degrees I 
learned from him that they were in very des- 
titute circumstances, and that they were with- 
out fuel and food, because a rich woman had 
neglected to pay his sister for some sewing 
she had done. Papa, I thought it was my 
duty to go out and see about them.” 

“ It was, indeed, my daughter. Go on.” 

“ I found the mother very ill. The house 
was a wretched one, they had no fire, and I 
saw no appearance of food in the room. I 
had a delightful visit. Mrs. Lee told me a 
great deal about her home in England, but 
she never made any allusion to her poverty. 
But when I left, I hunted up a grocer in the 
neighborhood, and got him to send her some 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


39 

provisions and wood; and that is why I am 
late for dinner, papa.” 

“ You did perfectly right, my daughter. 
Did you find out who she was before her 
marriage, Helen? ” 

“ I did not, papa. Herbert told me her 
father was a lord, and that he disinherited 
his daughter because she married a poor 
artist, and ” 

“ Herbert, did you say her son’s name was? 
I knew some people of that name in Eng- 
land.” 

“ I thought you were born in France, 
papa.” 

“So I was, but I was educated in Eng- 
land. Tell me exactly where they live, and 
give me my hat, daughter, and I will hunt 
them up and see if Mrs. Lee is not one of 
the friends of my youth.” 


CHAPTER III 

AN OLD FRIENDSHIP RENEWED 

“ The pains and griefs of other days 
May, shadow-like, pursue me yet; 

But toward the sun my face is set. 

His golden light on all my ways.” 

Samuel Stillman Conant. 

A S Colonel Demoville hailed a passing 
car two young men on the opposite 
side of the street raised their hats to 
him. 

“ I wonder where the old gentleman is 
going in that direction, Wallace?” asked 
the slimmer and more dude-like of the two. 

“ I could not say, Phelan,” replied the 
other, who had a very attractive countenance, 
without being exactly handsome. “ Perhaps 
he is going to look after some of his real 
estate. I have heard that he has quite a 
number of houses which he rents out, and 
they say they are scattered in all directions.” 

“ But you do not suppose he would attend 
to matters like that on Sunday, a man of his 
standing? ” 

“ Certainly not. But in riding past them 
he might see whether there were any fences 
40 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


41 


blown down by the late storm, or whether 
the chimneys or the roofs need any repairs, 
or any of a dozen other little items, and then 
he could send a workman to see about them 
to-morrow, for they say that the old gentle- 
man does not employ a real-estate agent, but 
pockets all the profits himself. However, this 
is a mere surmise on my part. Of course it 
is no affair of mine, and I have no right to 
make any conjectures on the subject. I have 
quite enough to occupy me in attending to my 
own business, without interfering with that of 
other people.” 

“ That is so.” Phelan winced at the sar- 
casm. “ Yet persons will wonder when they 
see any one deviating one hair’s breadth from 
the perpendicular of the beaten track custom 
has marked out for society people to travel. 
Of course opinions differ, but it is my belief 
that this propensity to gossip over the un- 
usual keeps many from straying outside the 
fold, when they know that, as the old Scotch 
song has it : 

“ ‘ A chiel’s amang ye talcin’ notes, 

And, faith, he’ll prent it.’ ” 

“ You may be right, Phelan. I never 
thought of gossip in that light before. Yet, 
on the other hand, how easy it is to misjudge 
a person’s actions, making ‘ trifles light as 


42 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


air ’ become ‘ confirmations strong as proofs 
of holy writ.’ Do you know, Phelan, that I 
believe that character, as well as lives, has 
been sacrificed on the altar of circumstantial 
evidence? ” 

“You make me think, Wallace, that there 
is a fearful responsibility lying upon our 
words.” 

“ Phelan, I wish we could all think that, 
and remember it always. How many heart- 
aches might be spared to suffering humanity 
if all the world acted upon this principle! 
Colonel Demoville has a lovely young daugh- 
ter, Miss Helen. Have you ever met her?” 

“ I know her by sight only. She is very 
beautiful, I think. The latest report is that 
her father’s bookkeeper, Lawrence, is desper- 
ately in love with her.” 

“ I should not be surprised if he were. Yet 
I am sure the admiration is not mutual, for 
I never saw a , young lady treat a visitor with 
such polite indifference as in this case. After 
he left the house one night. Shorter and I 
laughingly remonstrated with her on her cruel 
treatment of one who so evidently adored 
her, and she replied, ‘ Well, gentlemen, I may 
be wrong, and I hope that I may prove to be 
so, but I took an unaccountable aversion to 
that man the first time I ever saw him. I 
have tried hard to overcome it, for father 
thinks a great deal of the young man, and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


43 

trusts him Implicitly In his office, but I do 
not like his countenance. It Is not frank and 
open, as it should be to Inspire confidence.’ ” 

“ Do you know, Wallace, I have heard a 
dozen ladles speak In the same way of this 
Lawrence ? Some of them say that they have 
caught him in slight prevarications, not calcu- 
lated to harm any one but himself, but suffi- 
ciently far from the truth to make any one 
doubtful of his veracity. And by the way, 
what a contempt ladies have for any one who 
is not strictly truthful ! ” 

“ Yes, God bless them, they deserve the 
praise for everything that is good about men. 
But I hope that for once Miss Helen’s judg- 
ment Is in error, for I would not have her in- 
terests harmed for anything in this world. 
She Is one of the truest, best friends I ever 
had. Understand me, Phelan, I am not In 
love with her, as all the other men who visit 
her seem to l3e. I may have some conceit, 
but I am very conscious* that I do not reach 
the very high standard Miss Helen has 
adopted for the man who shall be the fond 
possessor of her heart and hand. Therefore 
I offer only friendship at the shrine of Beauty, 
where others are sacrificing the best years of 
their life In the vain hope that they will win 
her love.” 

In the mean time. Colonel Demovllle was 


44 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


riding along in the jolting, comfortless street 
car, unconscious that he and his affairs were 
the subject of so much discussion. There were 
no passengers except himself, and the want 
of anything to interest him made the way seem 
doubly long and tedious. 

“ Dear me,” he said with a yawn, “ this is 
certainly a doleful quarter of the city. No 
lawns, no flower gardens or summerhouses, 
nothing to beautify the landscape, and the 
houses are of the plainest and most dilapi- 
dated appearance. Why, bless my life! I 
never was in this quarter before, and I have 
lived in this city twenty years. Rents must 
be quite low in this neighborhood, or the land- 
lords would certainly keep the buildings in 
better repair.” 

Just then the driver stopped the car. 

“ This is your corner, sir, and that is the 
place you were inquiring for,” pointing down 
a side street to the middle of the next block. 

“ Thank you, but are you sure that is the 
house where Mrs. Lee lives?” 

“ Quite sure, sir,” touching his cap. 

“ I doubted it only because that place looks 
too dilapidated for human beings to inhabit. 
Why, bless me ! it looks scarcely fit to shelter 
cattle.” 

“ Yes, sir, but it is what we all may have 
to come to afore we die. Good morning. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


45 

When he drew nearer to the miserable 
abode, Colonel Demoville was still more 
struck with its utterly wretched appearance. 

“ Why, dear me ! dear me! ” he ejaculated, 
“ if Mrs. Lee should prove to be my old 
friend, Alice Herbert, how this change in her 
fortune would demonstrate the irony of Fate ! 
Just to think of her father’s castle, and then 
to compare it with this hut! It is prepos- 
terous ! ” 

Tears glistened in his dark eyes. He wiped 
them away, and knocked at the door. It was 
opened by Emma Lee, who was slightly 
startled when she beheld a very erect, aristo- 
cratic-looking old gentleman who, without 
speaking, walked into the room and up to her 
mother’s bed. The girl was just wondering 
whether to consider the man as a mute or a 
lunatic, when Mrs. Lee gave a cry of surprise 
and joy. 

“ Arthur Demoville ! ” 

“Alice Herbert!” Colonel Demoville 
clasped her hand warmly in his own. 
“ My dear old friend, but how very 
sadly altered! I remember you as a fresh, 
rosy girl of sweet sixteen, as beautiful and 
blooming as this young lady, and then to come 
and find you like this ! ” 

He sank into a chair, and covered his face 
with his hands. The tears trickled through 
his fingers. Mrs. Lee seemed much affected 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


46 

also, yet, womanlike, she forgot her own 
grief in trying to comfort her friend. 

“ Arthur, do not take this trial so hard. It 
is the will of God and we must submit. I 
believe that I have done so already. I have 
made my peace with my Maker, and now I 
am only waiting for His summons.” 

“ But what will become of your children, 
my dear friend? ” 

“ I am perfectly willing to leave them in 
the hands of my loving Heavenly Father, 
feeling perfectly confident that He will pro- 
vide for them. ‘ When thy father and thy 
mother forsake thee, then the Lord will take 
thee up.’ ” 

“Alice, your faith is so beautiful! Freely 
would I give every dollar that I possess if 
mine could equal yours.” 

“Arthur, you can attain even greater faith 
than mine if you will only strive and pray to 
God to give it to you; and believe me, dear 
friend, it is a gift which is worth any effort. 
It is more valuable than houses or lands, more 
priceless than money or jewels, for only by 
its possession do we gain that ‘ peace of God 
which passeth understanding.’ ” The light 
which shone in her large brown eyes seemed 
almost angelic. 

“ My dear old friend of childhood’s happy 
days, I will strive hard to attain it, and I beg 
that you will intercede for me at the Throne 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


47 

of Grace, for we are told that ‘ the prayers 
of the righteous,’ dear Alice, ‘ availeth 
much.’ ” 

“ Arthur, I will pray for you as long as my 
life lasts, and then beyond the grave, if I 
shall be permitted. Now let me tell you of a 
rare pleasure we had this morning in a visit 
from a young lady who teaches my son, Her- 
bert, in the Sunday-school. She was very 
sweet and beautiful, and she listened with so 
much interest when I told her of my life in 
England. We happened to be without fuel 
or provisions, and, although I did not allude 
to our poverty, she must have noticed it, for 
soon after she had left, Mr. Hobson, our 
nearest grocer, brought us a supply of every- 
thing we needed, and he refused to tell us 
who was the generous donor. But I am per- 
fectly sure that the gift came from Miss Helen 
Demoville. By the way, Arthur, can it be 
possible that she is related to you? ” 

“ She is my only daughter, and she is one of 
whom any father might justly be proud,” re- 
plied the Colonel. “ She told me of her visit 
to you, and that is why I came. I thought 
when she mentioned your name and that of 
your little son, and some of the circumstances 
of your family history, that you might be the 
playmate of my youth, and I am delighted to 
find that my surmise was correct.” 

“ So am I, my good friend. Just see how 


48 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

stupid I am growing since my illness, when I 
did not even suspect that you were related to 
that sweet angel of mercy ! But then you 
know, Arthur, that I was not then aware that 
you were living in America.” 

“ That is quite true, for my home was in 
France when we used to know each other. 
Now, Alice, I do not wish to be inquisitive 
about your affairs, and I hope that you will 
understand my motive when I ask the liberty 
of making one inquiry.” 

“ Certainly, Arthur, just as many as you 
like.” 

“ Do you ever hear from your father now, 
Alice?” 

“ Never, Arthur. He has not answered 
one of the letters that I have written him since 
my marriage. They have always been re- 
turned to me unopened.” 

“ And you receive no remittances from 
him?” 

“ Not one penny. When I married with- 
out his consent, father swore that he would 
never forgive me, and you can well imagine, 
Arthur, that a man of his indomitable will 
would be very slow to break his word.” 

“ But does he know of your adversity, 
Alice?” 

“ I think not. A month ago I humbled my 
pride and wrote to ask aid of him, not for 
myself, for I shall soon be where I shall not 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


49 

need food nor raiment; but I asked him to 
take pity upon my innocent children, who had 
never done anything to offend him, when 
their mother should have passed ‘ beyond the 
sighing and the weeping.’ ” 

“ And he replied — — ? ” 

She shook her head sadly. 

“ The letter was returned unopened, like 
those which I had written years before.” 

A long pause followed, filled with gloomy 
thoughts on either side. Colonel Demoville 
was the first to speak. 

“ Alice, will you give me your permission 
to write to your father, and to tell him of 
your destitution? If his heart is not harder 
than a stone he cannot fail to be touched by 
the story of your misfortunes. I would make 
an appeal to his pride, and you know he has 
an unlimited amount of that, and I would ask 
him whether he preferred to let those of his 
own blood suffer, or be assisted by strangers, 
or to give them what I consider to be their 
just inheritance? ” 

Mrs. Lee reflected a while before replying. 

“ For the sake of my dear children, Arthur, 
you may write to my father, and I thank you 
more than I can express.” 

“ And now, Alice, in reference to another 
matter. Excuse me foi* saying so, but this is 
not a fit abode for a lady of your birth.” 

“ I know it, Arthur, but the rent is almost 


50 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

nothing, and we could not afford a better 
house.” 

“ I understand, but I am anxious to make a 
pleasant little change for you. A few blocks 
from here I have a small cottage that I have 
not been able to rent for nearly a year, on ac- 
count of a foolish report of its being haunted. 
Now, the insurance policy that I hold upon 
it requires that it shall be occupied, and if 
you and your children are strong-minded 
enough to risk ‘ the spooks ’ you will confer 
a great favor upon me, Alice, by living there, 
as long as you wish, without paying rent, and 
thus you will convince these silly old gossips 
of the falsity of the rumors they have started.” 

“ I shall be delighted, Arthur. Children, 
do you hear? Colonel Demoville offers us a 
pleasant house to live in as long as we wish, 
without paying any rent. Ought we not to 
be very grateful to him for the privilege? ” 

Herbert almost shouted with delight, and 
Emma thanked Colonel Demoville in a grace- 
ful way. 

“ Suppose you get everything arranged for 
moving to-morrow, and if the weather is 
pleasant Tuesday I will send my drays and 
a carriage to take you to your new home, if 
that will be agreeable to you.” 

“ Thank you,” replied Mrs. Lee. “ I feel 
as if a change, even of a few blocks, would 
improve my health. Arthur, I wish to show 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


51 

you something. Emma, will you be so kind 
as to hand me that morocco box on the top 
of the chest? Thank you.” She opened it 
and took from it a handsome diamond cross. 
“ Do you remember this, Arthur? ” 

“ Yes, it was your father’s present to you 
on the day of your graduation ; and you have 
kept it all these years, Alice? ” 

“ Yes.” She pressed her lips to it. “ It is 
my dearest possession, for it is a happy re- 
minder of the days when my father loved me, 
and there was no estrangement between us. 
But only this morning, Arthur, I had made 
up my mind to dispose of it to obtain money 
to keep my children from suffering, perhaps 
starving; and then that angel, your daughter, 
came, and now there will be no necessity for 
my parting with it for a long time, at any 
rate.” 

Colonel Demoville was much affected. 

“ I hope that you can keep it always, Alice. 
As long as I have a dollar I am willing to di- 
vide with you, the same as I would do with a 
sister.” 

“ Arthur, I see you have the same noble, 
generous heart. Ah, do not those pleasant 
days of our childhood seem like a happy 
dream? ” 

“ They do indeed, Alice. I remember so 
well how sweetly you used to sing ‘ Ben Bolt ’ ! 
My daughter has often wondered why I love 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


52 

to hear that more than any of her other songs, 
and I told her that it was in memory of a 
very dear friend. The words sound very ap- 
propriate to our lives now, for there have been 
so many sad changes since then. I feel as if 
it would be ‘ a sorrow’s crown of sorrow ’ to 
me to return to the old country now, Alice. 
Would it give you pleasure to be able to go 
there? ” 

“ Only to see my father once more before 
the summons comes to me to go hence.” The 
tears were streaming from her eyes. 

They talked for a long time of the scenes 
which they had witnessed in England, and the 
twilight was beginning to gather when Colo- 
nel Demoville arose to go. 

“You will come again, Arthur?” 

“ I can hardly tell, Alice. You know how 
prone human nature is to shrink from what- 
ever makes us sad. I do not know whether I 
shall be able to nerve myself to come again, 
for it distresses me so greatly to see you suffer, 
and when I think of you in the years that are 
to come, I want to remember you as you were 
in the days of your girlhood. But my daugh- 
ter will come frequently, and you must let me 
know if I can serve you in any way. Dear 
friend, farewell ! ” He clasped her hand be- 
tween his own. “ If we should meet no more, 
you must pray for me in that pure land be- 
yond the stars.” Pressing his handkerchief 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


53 

to his streaming eyes, he departed. Helen 
met him at his own door with a kiss. 

“ Was Mrs. Lee the person whom you were 
looking for, papa? ” 

“ Yes, daughter, we were schoolmates long 
ago. Oh, it distresses me so much, Helen, to 
see the terrible ravages that disease has made 
in her once lovely countenance I I should never 
have recognized her if it had not been for her 
voice, but she knew me immediately. Helen, 
I should like you to take this to her to-mor- 
row,” handing her a twenty-dollar gold 
piece. “ Put it into an envelope, and slip it 
into her hand when you bid her good-by.” 

“ Certainly, papa, I will do it. I never met 
a family who aroused my interest so thor- 
oughly upon such a short acquaintance. They 
are all so lovely, and yet God’s hand seems to 
lie on them so heavily.” 

“ Yes, daughter. It has always seemed to 
me one of the greatest mysteries of Provi- 
dence that so many good persons should have 
to endure such fiery trials in this world.” 

“ ‘ Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,’ 
papa. We can never reach the spiritual alti- 
tude to which our souls aspire until the dross 
of our natures has been consumed in the fur- 
nace of affliction.” 

“ That is true, Helen. Your mother used 
to speak of that, and she was greatly sancti- 
fied by her sufferings.” 


54 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Papa, will you be so kind as to accom- 
pany me to church to-night? When the serv- 
ices are over I should like to ask Dr. Mark- 
ham if he will not call upon Mrs. Lee some 
time this week. I think that she ought to 
have all the comfort religion can give.” 

Her father hesitated for several moments 
before replying. He was not fond of attend- 
ing church at night. The slim congregations, 
he thought, were discouraging alike to min- 
ister and people, and for his own part he 
always grew sleepy, so he had gradually left 
off going some years ago. Yet when he con- 
sidered how seldom his daughter made such 
a request of him, what a pleasure it was to 
her to attend church, and that she had been 
debarred the privilege that morning, he could 
not find it in his heart to refuse. 

“ Certainly, Helen, I will go with you with 
pleasure, my darling,” he answered, somewhat 
to her surprise. 

As soon as tea was over they went to 
church, and fortunately there was quite a large 
congregation. Dr. Markham made one of 
his most brilliant efforts, and Colonel Demo- 
ville’s eyelids behaved admirably. 

“How did you like the sermon, papa?” 
Helen inquired when it was ended. 

“ Very much. Why, if they are always so 
good at night, I must come all the time. I 
would not like to miss another one.” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


55 

“ Sometimes they are better than that, papa. 
It would make me so happy if you came 
often.” 

Helen told Dr. Markham of her wish that 
he should visit Mrs. Lee at his earliest con- 
venience, and she gave him the lady’s address. 

“ If you should call on Mrs. Lee later than 
to-morrow, Dr. Markham, you will find her 
in the house on the northwest corner of Pine 
and Magnolia streets,” said Colonel Demo- 
ville. 

“ Why, papa, that is one of your houses, 
is it not?” asked Helen as they walked to- 
ward their home. “ How is it that the Lees 
can afford such a comfortable home?” 

“ There is a rumor that the place is haunted, 
so no one will rent it, and Mrs. Lee has con- 
sented to occupy it and thus convince the 
neighbors that the report is false.” 

“You are the dearest father a girl ever 
had! I do not know when I have been so 
happy.” 

That night Colonel Demoville handed the 
letter he had written to Mrs. Lee’s father to 
Helen to read. 

“ Do you think it expresses her situation 
emphatically enough, daughter?” 

“ Yes, papa, it ought to melt a heart of 
stone.” 


CHAPTER IV 


“ THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS 
THYSELF ” 

“ Better than grandeur, better than gold, 

Than rank and title a thousand-fold, 

Is the healthy body, a mind at ease. 

And simple pleasures that always please; 

A heart that can feel for a neighbor’s woe. 

And share his joys with a genial glow; 

With sympathies large enough to enfold 
All men as brothers — is better than gold !” 

Mrs J. M. Winton. 

T he next morning when Helen Demo- 
ville awoke her first thought was of 
the Lee family. 

“ Perhaps I have been dreaming of 
them,” she thought. “ At any rate, I must 
go out this morning, and pay Mr. Hobson’s 
bill, and hand Mrs. Lee the money papa sent 
her. How noble it was of him to be so gener- 
ous, for I can see that money is not so abun- 
dant with him as it was a few years ago, and 
I have no doubt he will have to deny himself 
something to which he has been accustomed. 
I am going to try ever so hard to make the 
household expenses light this month. But 
56 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


57 

what a blessing this money will bring to these 
poor people — proper food and medicine for 
the mother, and a good fire for them all. I 
have no doubt they will make it last them a 
long time.” 

By ten o’clock she had finished her house- 
keeping, which consisted principally in giving 
directions to their very competent servants, 
and she was ready to start out for her visit. 

“ Dear me,” she said as she looked into 
her pocket-book, “ I have only enough money 
to pay Mr. Hobson’s bill and one carfare, so 
I shall have to walk back. But I ought to be 
able to stand that much exercise when Herbert 
Lee comes both ways on his crutches. If it 
tires me a great deal I shall come to the con- 
clusion that the life that I have been leading 
is entirely too enervating, and I will walk out 
there until I grow so strong that I can stand 
four miles instead of two.” 

The ride was a solitary one, but her 
thoughts occupied her so entirely that it 
seemed neither long nor dreary. She went 
first to Mr. Hobson’s store. 

“ Why, Miss Demoville, you really need 
not have been in such a hurry,” exclaimed the 
old man, rubbing his hands together as Helen 
took out her purse. ’ “ Your credit is perfectly 
good in this store, ma’am, to the amount of 
f-i-v-e h-u-n-d-r-e-d dollars, for six months or 
a year, if you like. Just suppose, ma’am, that 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


58 

you let the bill stand this morning and get 
some more articles when the Lees need them, 
and you can pay me whenever you find it 
convenient.” 

“ Thank you, Mr. Hobson, I do not like 
to break my habit of promptness in money 
matters. You know the old saying about 
short accounts making long friends.” 

“That is true, in a general way, ma’am; 
but every rule has exceptions, and I don’t 
think there is any danger of me and you fall- 
ing out. But as you like about paying, ma’am. 
Take a seat while I make out your bill. I 
always have such a run of custom early Mon- 
day morning that I do not get time for my 
bookkeeping until late in the day. You see, 
ma’am, I am in the habit of giving a small 
present to each customer who comes before 
nine o’clock of a Monday, and I find that 
the plan works splendid, and it pays me tre- 
men-jous well. Most of the men who live 
around here work in the foundries. Miss De- 
moville, and they draw their money too late 
Saturday night to spend it, so, in this way, I 
get the first chance at it as soon as Sunday 
is over; and I just tell you, ma’am, that when 
Josiah Hobson can’t sell a customer anything 
you may be certain that he either does not 
want it, or that he has not the money to buy 
it with. I generally know what he needs 
from the bills that I have sold to him before. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


59 

I’ll bring you the little memorandum, ma’am, 
in one moment.” 

He returned with the bill sooner than 
Helen expected him. 

“ It amounts to exactly five dollars, as you 
said, ma’am. Just pass your eye over the 
items, and see if you don’t think that I dis- 
played some judgment in selecting them. Or 
perhaps you had better let me read it to you, 
ma’am, for you are not accustomed to my 
handwriting, and I write such a very queer 
fist. You see, in doing a cash business, like 
mine, I don’t have occasion often to make out 
a bill, and if I did the customers would have 
to understand it by what they knowed they 
had got. Ha, ha, ha ! But my wife gener- 
ally does any very particular writing for me. 
She is a very highly edicated lady, ma’am. In 
fact, before I married her she used to teach 
school down in Sleepy Valley. But I will 
read over the items rapidly to you, ma’am, 
for mebbe you want to go. Ther’s tea, cof- 
fee, sugar, flour, meal, grits, lard, butter, 
yeast powders, canned beef, tongue and ham, 
and a few little things that I threw in myself. 
Yes, ma’am, they was delighted to get them, 
and I would not let on who sent them ; but I 
think they suspicioned who it was, for that 
little one, he’s a sharp fellow for his age, 
cries out, ‘ I know it must have been my 
teacher. Miss Demoville,’ and of course I 


6o 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


kept my mouth shut, for I could not dispute 
the truth, you know. Now, ma’am, just pass 
your eye down the line, and see if you can 
discover any error in the figures. I ain’t al- 
ways strictly correct in my calculations, al- 
though I am honest, and I’d be obliged to 
!ir ij 2 iny mistake you 



Yes, ma’am, that is right. 


Thanks, and I hope you will call again when- 
ever you need anything in my line. Good 
morning, ma’am,” bowing her out of the 
door. 

“ Now, I hope that Fate will protect me 
from that other great talker, Mrs. Burns,” 
thought Helen, “ or the day will be gone be- 
fore I reach Mrs. Lee’s house.” 

But when she passed the house she saw the 
old lady in the yard standing over and super- 
intending her husband, who was spading up 
the ground. 

“ Good morning, ma’am,” said Mrs. Burns 
at the top of her voice. “ You’re gwine ter 
Miss Lee’s, I s’pose. She ain’t no better. I 
heered from ’er this mornin’, but somebody 
sent ’er a whole passel '•er nice groceries yis- 
tiddy. I wish ter God they’d er sent me er 
basketful while they wus er sendin’. I gits 
mighty tired er eatin’ jist pertaters an’ salt all 
the year eroun’, I kin tell yer. I foun’ that 
quarter you give Burns tucked away in ’is 
shirt, an’ I taken it an’ bought me er good 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


6i 

piece er bakin with it, an’ that’ll las’ me fer 
er month. You see, I don’t allow Burns to 
eat meat w’en I happens to have any. No, 
indeed. Let ’im eat ’is ‘ praties,’ as he calls 
’em. He bein’ er Irishman an’ raised on ’em, 
hit don’t hurt ’im like hit does me what 
wasn’t.” 

All this time Mr. Burns was standing be- 
hind his wife’s back, making frantic signs 
with his hands and mouth to Miss Demoville, 
which that lady interpreted as a request for 
more money with which to buy a drink. The 
old lady wheeled suddenly around and caught 
him by the shoulder. 

“You, Burns, behave yourself, sir!” she 
ejaculated as she shook him soundly and gave 
him a sharp cuff on the ears. “ You see, 
ma’am, he won’t work one lick lessen I’m er 
watchin’ of ’im jest like er child; an’ that 
groun’ is jest ’bleeged ter be broke up an’ 
planted in pertaters, fer if it don’t bring in 
er crop we won’t have nothin’ ter eat for the 
nex’ year. But come in an’ set down in er 
cheer an’ res’ yerse’f, an’ let’s have er good 
long talk. I kin give yer er nice cup er but- 
termilk one er my neighbors sent me this 
mornin’.” 

“ I am very much obliged to you, Mrs. 
Burns, but my time is limited this morn- 
ing.” 

“ Well, then, yer mus’ call erg’in. Yer 


62 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


mustn’t think no harm er me bein’ out here 
in my Mully Rubber’ wrapper, as they calls 
’em now. I jest put hit an’ this see’sucker 
sun-bunnit on ter be loose an’ comf’terble like 
while I was er watchin’ Burns ter make ’im 
work.” 

Helen caught the last words as she turned 
the corner. A short walk brought her to 
Mrs. Lee’s poor home. When she knocked, 
Herbert came on his crutches and opened the 
door. It was a pleasure to look at his radiant 
countenance as he stood in the door almost 
speechless with delight. 

“ Good morning, my dear boy. Is your 
mother better to-day?” asked Helen as she 
stooped to kiss his beautiful forehead. 

“ Oh, I think so. Miss Helen,” was his 
quick response. “We are all so happy that 
it makes us feel better, even if we are not 
really so. We have had so much good for- 
tune since you left here yesterday, ma’am. 
First came a basket of splendid groceries and 
some wood, and we are ever so much obliged 
to you for them. Then your father came, 
and he offered us such a nice house to live in, 
and we have been thanking God every mo- 
ment since then for His goodness toward us.” 

“ That is right, Herbert; you must thank 
God for your blessings, for they come from 
Him. We only hold his gifts in trust.” 

Mrs. Lee held the young lady’s hand for 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 63 

some moments without speaking, and her 
beautiful eyes were moist with tears. 

“ How can I ever find words to express my 
thanks for your kindness to me and mine? ” 
she said, after some moments had passed. 

“ Please do not try, Mrs. Lee. Let us talk 
about moving, instead. Do you feel as if you 
will be strong enough to stand the fatigue to- 
morrow ? You know that you could wait until 
later if you thought it necessary.” 

“ I think that I can bear it. Miss Helen. 
I am so anxious to make the change, for I 
imagine it may improve my health, although 
I know that it is hardly possible that it should 
do so. I do not think that I realized thor- 
oughly how very uncomfortable this miser- 
able abode was, until there was a prospect of 
my having a better one. You see. Miss 
Helen, I was trying to follow out the con- 
cluding portion of ‘ my duty toward man,’ 
which I learned long ago in the catechism 
when I lived in dear old England: ‘Not to 
covet nor desire other men’s goods; but to 
learn and labor truly to get mine own living.’ 
That part it is not possible for me to perform 
while I am so ill, but this I try to obey: ‘ and 
to do my duty in that state of life unto which 
it shall please God to call me ’ ; so I tried to 
be satisfied with my fate. But Dr. Herndon 
will call this afternoon, and I will ask his 
advice about moving, and I will find some way 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


64 

of letting you know what he decides about it, 
in order to save your father the trouble of 
sending his drays to-morrow, in case the Doc- 
tor thinks that we had better not move then.” 

“ Would you prefer that I should come or 
send for your answer, Mrs. Lee? ” 

“ I am very much obliged to you. Miss 
Helen, but I should not like to give you un- 
necessary trouble. Dr. Herndon has been 
so very kind and attentive since he has at- 
tended me that I do not think that he would 
object to sending a note or a message for me. 
Do you think that he would know where your 
father’s office or residence is. Miss Helen, or 
will you be so kind as to leave your address 
here? ” 

“ Dr. Herndon visits occasionally at our 
house, Mrs. Lee.” By chance Helen glanced 
at her own reflection in a tiny mirror and she 
felt provoked when she saw that a deep blush 
covered her face. As if to turn the conversa- 
tion, she said: 

“ Can I not help Emma with her packing, 
Mrs. Lee? I wore an old dress for the pur- 
pose.” 

“ Thank you. Miss Helen, but the^re is 
scarcely anything of that kind to be done. 
This house is so small that we have only taken 
from the boxes what we absolutely needed, 
and they can be put up early to-morrow morn- 
ing. But I should be very glad to have you 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 65 

take charge of my diamond cross, as that 
might be lost in moving. Herbert, will you 
be so kind as to call your sister Emma to 
come and get it for me? She is in the other 
room.” 

Emma came in and spoke to their guest, as 
she handed the jewelry case to her mother. 

“ Oh, how exquisite! ” exclaimed Helen as 
the diamonds flashed before her eyes. 

“Yes, it was my father’s present to me on 
the day that I was graduated. Colonel De- 
moville recognized it immediately when I 
showed it to him. Just to think that I never 
guessed that you were his daughter when I 
first saw you ! and now I discover that there 
is quite a striking resemblance between you, 
although you are a blonde, while he is very 
dark.” 

“ Thank you, Mrs. Lee. I appreciate your 
compliment.” 

“ My dear young lady, you could not re- 
semble a better person. I hope that you will 
wear my cross while you have it, for the sake 
of the friendship which has existed between 
your father and myself for so many years.” 

“ I am so much obliged to you, Mrs. Lee. 
Perhaps I may wear it in the house, in case 
I have any visitors in the evening, but I should 
be afraid of losing it if I wore it on the 
street, or in a crowded hall. But, Emma, you 
seem to be in trouble,” as she observed the 


66 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


red and swollen eyes of the girl. “ Can I not 
assist you in some way? ” 

“ You are very kind, Miss Helen,” said 
Emma, her tears beginning to fall again. “ I 
have taken in a large quantity of children’s 
clothing, which must be finished by Thursday 
afternoon, for their mother is going away 
then, and my sewing machine is out of order, 
and it will not take a stitch. I hate to send it 
to the shop to be repaired, because they al- 
ways keep it so long, and then I have no 
money to pay for it, on account of a certain 
person’s neglecting to pay me, so I do not 
know what I shall do. I dislike to disappoint 
this lady about her work, for I promised her 
faithfully that I would do it, and it may be 
impossible for her to find any one else who 
can attend to it just now. Besides, I do not 
want to risk the loss of her custom when she 
returns, for she is prompt and liberal in her 
payment, and she is not at all exacting. But 
the more I work at the machine, the worse it 
grows. I do not think that the trouble can 
be remedied without putting in a new tension 
wheel.” 

Helen was anxious to assist this sweet 
young girl, and she felt so sorry that she had 
no money so that she could have the machine 
repaired, and pay for it herself. Her con- 
science reproached her when she thought of 
the many foolish expenditures she had made 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 67 

during the last quarter for confectionery and 
other luxuries. But there was one way in 
which she could help in this matter, and that 
was by stitching the work at home for Emma. 
It cost her a hard struggle to make the offer, 
for she was so constituted that she disliked to 
sit still, consequently sewing was to her a very 
irksome task. She always gave out the greater 
portion of her own work, and she felt that 
she was perfectly right in doing so, for she 
helped the poor to make their own living, 
and her own household, social and religious 
duties consumed much of her time and 
strength. There followed quite a sharp con- 
flict in her mind between Duty and Inclina- 
tion. At last the battle was won, and the 
cloud vanished frpm her troubled face. 

“ Emma, I have a White sewing machine, 
and it is in excellent order. In fact, I have 
used it very little since I bought it, and I 
can do very good work on it when I try. So 
if you will give me very explicit directions 
about your sewing, I will take it home with 
me this morning and finish it for you, and you 
can devote your whole time and attention to 
your sick mother, and to your preparation for 
moving.” 

“ Oh, Miss Helen, you are so kind and 
good!” It was worth the sacrifice to see 
Emma’s countenance change its expression 
from utter wretchedness to perfect bliss. “ I 


68 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


cannot tell you how troubled I have been 
about this matter. Last night I could scarcely 
sleep for thinking about it, and now you have 
settled it by a wave of your wand, like Cin- 
derella’s fairy godmother! Yes, indeed, I 
will show you how she wants it done, and I 
will consider your doing it for me the greatest 
favor in the world. This piece is to be 
stitched to this one, so.” 

She gave a long list of directions which 
would have bewildered any one who was not 
an expert; but Helen concentrated her mind 
upon them, and she understood them per- 
fectly. When she had concluded, Emma 
wrapped the articles in a newspaper. 

“ This bundle is too large for you to carry. 
Miss Helen. Suppose you let me go with 
you to the car and put it on, and the driver 
will take it off for you when you reach your 
house.” 

“ I will not go directly home, Emma.” 
Helen blushed with the effort to conceal from 
them the fact that she was not going to ride. 
“ Papa wishes me to see how the painters are 
getting along putting a coat of paint on the 
outside of your new house, and whether his 
office boy is washing the windows and scrub- 
bing the floor thoroughly.” 

“ He is very kind. Can I not go with you 
that far, then, and carry your package? ” 

“ Thank you, Emma, it is so light that I 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 69 

do not mind it. Good morning, Mrs. Lee. I 
hope that I will find you much better when I 
call again.” She slipped her father’s gift 
into the hand of the invalid, and then she 
hurried away to escape the thanks which she 
knew would follow. 

Helen found the cottage the scene of much 
industry when she reached it. The painters 
were busy on the ladders with their brushes, 
the carpenters were hammering away, and 
the glaziers were repairing the damages done 
by the bad boys while the place was vacant. 
The colored boy was down on his knees scrub- 
bing the floors and the women of the neigh- 
borhood were craning their necks to find out 
the meaning of the unwonted commotion in 
“ the haunted house.” 

“ Do you think you will finish the job to- 
day, Mr. Joiner?” Helen asked the head 
workman. 

“ Yes, ma’am, I expect to get through at 
sundown this evening; but if it should be 
necessary, we will work here until midnight, 
and make the folks around here think that 
there are spirits in the house, sure enough,” 
and he laughed loudly. “ I have given my’ 
word to your father. Miss Demoville, that the 
house shall be ready to-morrow morning, and 
my word is my bond, ma’am.” 

“ I asked because I wanted to know whether 
the family could move in to-morrow.” 


70 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Yes, ma’am, the Colonel told me about 
them. Good morning. Miss Demoville.” 

Helen selected the most private street for 
her walk home. She had proceeded only a 
few blocks when she saw a buggy approaching 
her. As it drew nearer, its occupant lifted 
his hat to her with a bow and a pleasant 
smile. 

“ That was Dr. Herndon,” said Helen to 
herself, “ and I am so sorry that he saw me 
walking and carrying this great bundle, for I 
have an idea that he is very aristocratic and 
particular about a lady’s doing anything that 
seems eccentric. But I feel sure that this was 
my duty, and I must learn to be indifferent as 
to the opinion of the world when I am in the 
right path.” 

“ I wonder why Miss Demoville was car- 
rying that large bundle down this out-of-the- 
way street?” thought Dr. Herndon. “I 
have always considered her a very fine girl, 
and I never saw her do anything peculiar until 
to-day.” 

But when he reached Mrs. Lee’s house the 
Doctor found that the whole family wanted 
to talk at once, and to tell him of the good 
fortune which had befallen them since his 
last visit, and the narration was liberally in- 
terspersed with the name of “ Miss Helen.” 

“ Do you mean Miss Demoville, whom I 
met down the street?” he inquired. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


71 


“ Yes, sir. Isn’t she lovely? ” 

“ I am sure that I think so, and that is 
the opinion of all the young gentlemen who 
are acquainted with her.” The Doctor’s 
handsome face colored with embarrassment. 
“ Is it her father’s cottage into which you are 
going to move? ” 

“ Yes, Doctor,” replied Mrs. Lee, “ and I 
promised her that I would ask you to let her 
know this afternoon whether you thought I 
would be able to stand the fatigue of being 
moved to-morrow, so that her father need not 
have the trouble of sending his drays if you 
do not think it would be advisable. Colonel 
Demoville offered to send a carriage for me.” 

“ Well, Mrs. Lee,” the Doctor replied 
after reflection, “ I think it is so desirable 
that you should be domiciled in a better abode 
that I am willing to take the risk. Of course, 
there is a probability of your having a hem- 
orrhage of the lungs from the effort, but I 
do not know that you would gain anything by 
waiting, as you are not likely to improve as 
long as you remain here. I will come at noon 
and accompany you, for fear it should make 
you worse.” 

“ Thank you, Doctor. Shall Emma write 
a note to Miss Demoville now? ” 

“ No, ma’am, I will do that at my office. I 
will be here promptly if to-morrow is a fair 
day. Good morning.” 


72 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


He sent the note by his office boy to Miss 
Demoville late in the afternoon. It was 
accompanied by a bouquet of violets and hya- 
cinths. 

In the drawing-room there was a basket 
of handsome flowers from the conservatory 
which had been presented to Helen by her 
father’s bookkeeper, Edgar Lawrence. She 
left them on the center-table to wither when 
they would. 

But these modest, yet sweeter, flowers met a 
happier fate, for they bloomed away their 
lives on Helen’s bureau, and when they were 
faded. Mammy found them pressed in her 
scrap-book. 

“Humph! ’Pears lak mer chile I done 
raise ’preciate de bo’quet de Doctor sont ’er,” 
the old woman ejaculated. “ I hope ter de 
Lawd dat we ain’t er gwine ter lose ’er.” 


CHAPTER V 

WHISPERINGS OF LOVE 

“ He loves not well whose love is bold ; 

I would not have thee come too nigh; 

The sun’s gold would not seem pure gold 
Unless the sun were in the sky; 

To take him hence and chain him near 
Would make his beauty disappear.” 

William Winter. 

E arly the next morning Helen began 
her self-imposed task of stitching for 
Emma Lee. 

“ If any persons should call to-day, 
Uncle James, please tell them that I beg to be 
excused,” she said to the stately old butler, a 
man who had served the Demoville family 
first as slave and then as freedman for nearly 
two generations. 

“ Miss Helen, aixcuse me,” with a very low 
bow, “ but has you forgotten, my young mis- 
t’ess, dat hit’s your reception day? ” 

“No, Uncle James, I had not forgotten; 
but I have a piece of work which I am 
obliged to finish to-day.” 

“ Cyarn’t yer git some er de sewin’ women 
ter do hit fer yer, marm? ” 

Helen shook her head. 

73 


74 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Den please, marm, let mie say ye’re gone 
out, ‘ not at home,’ as de oder ladies says 
when I dribes yer roun’ in der kerri’ge. Hit 
sounds more ’ristocratic.” 

“ No, Uncle James, I do not want any sto- 
ries told on my account. Don’t you know it 
would be the same as telling a falsehood my- 
self if I should let you tell one for me? ” 

“ or Mas’er ain’t gwine ter mark down 
dem leetle w’ite lies ’g’ins’ good Chris’yun 
people lak me an’ you. Miss Helen. He 
gwine ter aixcuse us fer dem leetle slips er 
de tongue. I gwine ter do ’xac’ly lak you tells 
me, dough ; but. I know de ladies gwine ter 
look mighty quare w’en I steps ter de do’ 
wid mer silber waiter an’ mer w’ite gloves an’ 
mer swaller-tail coat on an teks deir cyard an’ 
ses, ‘ Mer young mist’ess baigs ter be aixcuse’, 
madam,’ ” bowing low. 

“ I cannot help that. Uncle James; I must 
do what I am sure is my duty.” 

Stitch, stitch, stitch, went Helen’s machine 
all day. She could hear the tinkle of the 
doorbell now and then, and the clatter of the 
horses’ feet as the carriages drove up to the 
house and away, and she knew that she was 
missing the pleasure of seeing some of her 
best friends. She tried hard not to feel dis- 
appointed, but her eyes filled with tears when 
Uncle James brought up an invitation to an 
informal lunch to be given the next day at 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


IS 

one o’clock at the house of one of her school- 
mates, Lucy Curran. 

“ Dear me, how very pleasant it would be 
to go and meet all the members of our class ! 
But I cannot finish this work in time, so I 
must write and decline.” 

When the answer reached the Currans’ 
house, the disappointment it occasioned 
proved how popular the young girl was with 
them. 

“ I hope she is not becoming eccentric,” 
snapped Mrs. Curran, having lost some of 
her natural amiability through her fatigue 
and anxiety to have the entertainment pass 
off as well as possible. ‘ Some work to finish 
for a poor girl,’ when she puts out every 
stitch of her own sewing! What an idea 1 ” 

“ But, mother, we do not know all of the 
circumstances,” pleaded her gentle daughter. 
“ I know it cost Helen a struggle to refuse our 
invitation. Helen Demoville is the noblest, 
most unselfish girl I have ever known.” 

“Yes, I do not doubt that, Lucy; yet, all 
the same, I am quite vexed that she will not 
come, for there is no one else who could add 
rffore to the enjoyment of our guests than she, 
with her beauty, her attractive manners, and 
her great musical talent and fine conversa- 
tional powers. I am afraid that her absence 
will cast a gloom over the whole affair, for 
there is no one who can fill her place.” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


76 

Late in the afternoon some one knocked at 
the door of Helen’s room. It was Mammy, 
and her countenance wore a very troubled ex- 
pression. 

“ Miss Helen, Jeems sont me ter tell yer 
dat dere’s er pusson in de hall w’at wants ter 
see yer, an’ wouldn’t tek no aixcuse, an’ ’e 
jes’ had ter let ’em in.” 

“ Is it a gentleman or a lady. Mammy? ” 

“ ’Taint nuther one, honey, hit’s jest er 
pusson. She’s es tall es yer par, an’ es slim 
es er bean-pole, an’ ’er clo’es don’t tech ’er 
now’er’s, an’ dey’s all sorts er colors lak der 
rainbow, an’ she’s got er leetle bit uv er head, 
an’ er great big bunnit er settin’ up dis er 
way,” spreading out her bony hands over her 
ears. 

“ Oh, I think I know whom you mean. 
Mammy! Please ask her if her name is Mrs. 
Burns, and if she says that it is, you can bring 
her right up to my room. I would lose too 
much time in talking to her, or rather listen- 
ing, if I should go down stairs.” 

In a few moments Mammy returned with 
the old woman following her. 

“ Mornin’, ma’am; how d’ye feel ter-day? 
Gracious, ain’t this er fine house ! I’ve be’n 
in most er the best houses in town, but I 
hain’t never seen air one that’ll tech this un 1 
Ther’s arches here, an’ arches there, until 
yer cain’t sceercely fin’ yer way erbout. I’d 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


77 

be sho’ ter git lost ef I lived in this big place; 
an’ the stairs goes er windin’ an’ er windin’ 
eroun’ with the’r mahogany ballusters ’way 
up ter the ruf, an’ all kivered with such thick 
carpet thet yer cain’t hear yerse’f er walkin’, 
an’ the walls is all lineded with fine paper an’ 
pictur’s, an’ here an’ ther’ er statoo er settin’ 
on er table er in er nick in the wall, an’ the 
c’andeliers jest er glitterin’ with gildin’ an’ 
cut-glass dangles; an’ I took er peep inter the 
parlor while I wus er waitin’, an’ I never seed 
so much finery in all mer born days; ther’s 
mirro’s an’ lace curtings, an’ plush sofies an’ 
cheers an’ pochays, an’ these here tables es 
black es er nigger, an’ er pi-anner, an’ I ses 
ter merself, ses I, ‘ Whew! Ef I jes’ had the 
money thet wus paid fer one er these bronzers, 
es they call ’em, hit’d feed me an’ the ol’ man 
fer er year 1 ’ That ol’ nigger at the door 
didn’ want ter let me set mer foot inside the 
house. When I pulled the bell he stuck ’is 
ol’ nappy head out with ’is white gloves on, 
an’ ’is silver waiter, an’ ’is fine clothes an’ ’is 
airs, an’ ’e bowed hisse’f mos’ down ter the 
flo’, an’ ses ’e, ‘ Miss ’Moville baig ter be 
aixcuse’, madam ’ ; an’ then ’is head flew up 
erg’in, an’ ’e seen me, an’ ’e changed ’is tune 
quicker ’n lightnin’, an’ ’e ses, cross es er bear, 
‘ De mist’ess er de house ain’t et home ter- 
day ’; an’ I ses ter ’im, putty sharp, ses I, ‘ I’ll 
have yer ter know, sar, thet I ain’t no baiggar; 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


78 

ef I wear t’other folks’ clo’es they was gif ter 
me by some er the riches’ ladies in this town; 
an’ yer mist’ess is at home, sar, fer I beared 
the machine er tickin’ es I combed erlong under 
’er winder, an’ I’ve come ter tell ’er somepin’ 
’ruther erbout one uv ’er frien’s,’ ses I, ‘ an’ 
I’m sho’ ef she knowed who hit wus, she’d see 
me, an’ I’m not ergoin’ ter move er peg f’om 
this door untel you let ’er know thet hit’s me, 
an’ then I’ll give ’er the chaince er refusin’,’ 
ses I ; an’ then thet ol’ Jiniwery let me go inter 
the hall so’s ter get me out er the way er 
some ladies w’ut wus dressed es fine es er fid- 
dle, an’ wus er cornin’ ter call on yer in the’r 
keri’ge, an’ w’en ’e’d turned them erway ’e 
come back an’ ’tended ter me, an’ hit turned 
out thet I wus right an’ ’e wus wrong, ol’ 
smart Aleck ! ” 

She paused for a moment to catch her 
breath, and Helen said: 

“ Mrs. Burns, I suppose that you have come 
here to tell me something about the Lee fam- 
ily, have you not? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am, I’m er cornin’ ter the p’int es 
fast es ever I kin,” wheezing with an asth- 
matic cough. “ The fus’ thing this mornin’ 
I run eroun’ ther’, es I giner’ly does, ter see 
how Miss Lee hed stood the night, an’, bless 
yer life, they wus all tored up, an’ er gwine 
ter move. I ast ’em wher’ to, an’ they tol’ 
me, an’ then I jest run eroun’ ter Mr. Hob- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


79 

son’s store an’ tol’ ’im erbout hit, an’ I foun’ 
out f’om him wher’bouts you lived, an’ I 
jes’ come here ter git you ter go an’ see ef 
you cain’t do somepin’ ’ruther ter pervent 
hit.” 

“Prevent it, Mrs. Burns?” Helen 
stopped her sewing in amazement. “You 
cannot mean that you want me to interfere 
with Mrs. Lee’s plan for improving her con- 
dition by moving to a house vastly superior 
to the hovel which she lives in now? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am, thet’s w’ut I mean, an’ noth- 
in’ else. This new house is hainted, an’ I’ve 
always beared thet ef yer moved inter one er 
them, ther’s sho’ ter be er death befo’ the year 
is out.” 

“ Mrs. Burns, it is more than probable that 
there will be a death in the Lee family before 
the year is out, for this is the early spring, 
and the life of the mother, as well as that 
of the little son, hangs by a very slender 
thread. Their moving to this ‘ haunted 
house ’ cannot hasten the death of either of 
them; on the contrary, it may be that their 
lives will be prolonged by making them more 
comfortable. Besides, my father told Mrs. 
Lee of these foolish rumors, and she said 
that she was not afraid to stay there. So you 
will oblige me greatly if you will do what you 
can to put an end to this idle gossip which 
has injured the property so much that no one 


8o ALMOST AN ANGEL 

has been willing to rent it for more than a 
year.” 

“ I’ll try my level best, Miss ’Moville. Hit 
does seem silly fer grown-up people ter 
b’lieve them yarns ’bout ghostisses, lak er 
passel er child’en, an’ I’m er gwine ter see 
ef I cain’t put mer foot down on it, an’ w’en 
Eleanor loly Peninty Piminty Burns puts ’er 
foot down, there’s putty sho’ ter be er rum- 
blin’ er the airth, es the sayin’ goes. Don’t 
yer want ter hear some er my hist’ry? ” 

Without waiting for a reply she continued : 

“ Burns ain’t my fust husban’. He was a 
Moore, Clem Moore, an’ he wus the greatest 
rider in all the Ian’, an’ he was allers sure to 
win in ever’ race he rid, an’ ther’ wus er feller 
name’ Bill Williams thet’d make fight et 
Clem ever’ time he’d win, an’ Sheriff Cherry 
Berry ses ter Clem, ‘ Clem,’ ses ’e, ‘ er great 
big feller lak you kin whup Bill Williams, an’ 
the nex’ time he makes fight et you, you jes’ 
lick ’im, an’ I’ll back yer,’ ses ’e. So the 
nex’ time Clem run in er race, he won erg’in, 
an’ Bill Williams had bet on t’other horse, 
so ’e follers the men inter the barroom wher’ 
Clem hed tuck ’em ter treat a’ter he’d won the 
money, an’ Bill, he walks up ter Clem an’ 
he hits ’im with er stick, an’ Clem, he grabs 
the stick an’ knocks Bill down, an’ he bites 
off ’is ear, an’ he would er killed ’im ef they 
hadn’t er tuck ’im off; an’ Sheriff Cherry 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


8i 


Berry hollers out ter Clem, ‘ You’d better run, 
Clem, ’cause I’m er goin’ ter git er warrant 
out fer yer in ten minutes ’ ; an’ Clem hollers 
back ter ’im, ‘ I’m er gwine ter have mer 
drink fust,’ an’ he taken it, an’ jes’ es Clem 
made er jump outen the barroom door, he 
seed Sheriff Cherry Berry er cornin’ tow’rds 
’im with the warrant in ’is han’, an’ Clem 
bounces onter the nearest horse, which was 
Sheriff Cherry Berry’s, an’ he teks out ’is 
knife an’ cuts the limb erloose wher’ ’e wus 
tied, an’ he rides away befo’ three thousan’ 
people, they er cheerin’ an’ er hollerin’ for 
Clem; an’ thet night he comes back an’ teks 
his horse outen Sheriff Cherry Berry’s stable, 
an’ puts back hisn, an’ swaps the saddles an’ 
the blankets on the po’ch, an’ then he rides 
erway an’ stays twenty-two year, untel Bill 
Williams dies. I wus eighteen year ol’ then, 
an’ me an’ Clem wus engage’ ter be married. 
No, ma’am, I never was putty; I was ugly 
then lak you see me now, but I was peart an’ 
handy about work, an’ I had sev’al offers ter 
marry, but I loved Clem, an’ I waited fer 
’im. He writ me er letter ever’ two week, 
an’ I allers give my answer ter the mail rider, 
so’s they couldn’t fin’ out wher’ Clem wus 
an’ have ’im ’rested. Fust he went ter Little 
Rock, Arkansaw, an’ then he was in Texas; 
nex’ he went ter Mexico, an’ he fit through 
the Mexican War; then he went ter Bufferlo, 


82 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


an’ f’om ther’ ter Californy, an’ then he went 
inter the Corrihee Mountings.” 

“ Where are the Corrihee Mountains, Mrs. 
Burns? ” 

“The Lord knows! No, hit warn’t the 
Corrihee Mountings, hit wus the Alligater 
Mountings; an’ then I writ ’im word thet Bill 
Williams wus dead, an’ ’e come home, an’ 
we wus married. Mother give us the biggest 
kind er weddin’, an’ ther’ wus great rej’icin’ 
’mongst the neighbors, ’ca’se they admired 
my spunk erbout waitin’ fer Clem f’om the 
time I was eighteen year old untel I was 
forty. Our little boy died w’en he wus er 
mont’ ol’, an’ me an’ Clem wusn’t married 
mo’ ’n three year befo’ he got drownded in 
the lake.” 

The old woman paused a moment to wipe 
her eyes. Just then Mammy came into the 
room with a slip of paper in her hand. 

“ Miss Helen, yer par done sont up er load 
er wood, an’ de nigger w’ut driv’ de cyart say 
sign dis ’ere.” 

“ Is it sawed. Miss ’Moville? ” asked Mrs. 
Burns. “ ’Ca’se ef hit ain’t, I wish you’d hire 
Burns ter saw it. He kin saw it es good es 
anybody, ef he’s er mind ter; er lazy varmint, 
I has ter make ’im wo’k! ” 

“Yes, Mrs. Burns, you can send your hus- 
band to-morrow, and I will pay him a dollar 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 83 

a cord and give him his dinner. How is the 
old man to-day? ” 

“ Oh, he’s all right; but me, I slipped down 
the steps yistiddy, an’ I broke two er mer 
ribs, an’ I jes’ got up an’ went ter the doctor’s 
shop an’ I got me some er this ’ere stickin’ 
plaster an’ stuck hit on, an’ here I am. Ain’t 
yer got some blankits ter wash, Miss ’Mo- 
ville. I kin do ’em beautiful fer fifty cents 
er pa’r.” 

“ Yes, ma’am. Mammy, will you bring 
those on the bed in the guest-room? All the 
others are in use at present. Mrs. Burns, 
would you mind taking this work home to 
Emma Lee as you go by there? ” 

“ Yes, ma’am, I’ll take it. I had no idee 
thet you wus er doin’ all thet stitchin’ fer er 
po’ girl like her. Hit’s mighty good er yer. 
Jes’ put ’em inside er the blankits. I’ll fetch 
’em home es soon es ever I kin git ’em dry, 
an’ don’t you pay no money ter Burns; jes’ 
save it an’ han’ it ter me, ’ca’se he’d be sho’ 
ter drink hit up, an’ we’re too nigh starvin’ fer 
thet. Good-bv, an’ I hope thet God’ll bless 
ye,” pressing Helen’s delicate hand with her 
bony fingers. 

“ Mammy,” said the. kind young lady, 
“ give her some ham and biscuit out of the 
safe.” 

“ Thank God ! ” exclaimed Mrs. Burns. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


84 

“ Hit’s be’n er many er day sence I’ve eat 
anything es good es that! ” 

Helen stitched diligently as long as she 
could see, stopping only to eat her dinner. 
Just as the gas was lighted and she was dress- 
ing for the evening, Mammy came to her 
room to say that Dr. Herndon was in the 
parlor and wished to see her for a few mo- 
ments. There was nothing in this to discon- 
cert a young lady who was generally so self- 
possessed as Helen, yet she could feel her 
heart go pit-a-pat all the way down the stairs. 

“ Good evening. Miss Demoville.” The 
Doctor remained standing until the young 
lady was seated. 

“ I am glad to see you. Doctor,” Helen 
replied as they shook hands. “ Won’t you 
take this arm-chair? Allow me to thank 
you for these beautiful flowers.” She laid 
her hand on the bouquet she had fastened 
in her dress. 

“ They are hardly worthy of thanks, for 
they are but a poor offering at the shrine of 
Beauty.” Helen’s color increased visibly. 
“ But I had observed that you seemed to love 
hyacinths and violets. Now these,” touching 
the handsome basket on the table, “ bear a 
greater resemblance to their fair young 
owner.” 

“ Do not speak of them.” Helen made 
a gesture of dismissal. “ I wish that they 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 85 

had not been sent. But I am afraid that I 
am transgressing the conventionalities of so- 
ciety in speaking so freely of an absent per- 
son.” 

“ I do not think so, Miss Demoville.” The 
Doctor’s expressive countenance glowed with 
enthusiasm. “ There is no trait that I admire 
more than candor, and your speaking to me 
In this unreserved manner makes me feel as 
If you considered me as one of your friends.” 

“ I do.” Her tone Indicated deep feeling. 

“ I thank you. Miss Helen, for I consider 
your friendship as a treasure that I can never 
appreciate too highly. I hope that I may live 
and die In the possession of the esteem of 
every one who is as pure and lovely as you 
are.” 

There was a short pause and then he re- 
sumed : 

“ But I am In danger of forgetting the 
object of my visit. I came at the request of 
my patient, Mrs. Lee, to say to you that she 
stood the excitement of the moving quite well, 
and she has felt no bad effects from It yet. 
She seems delighted with her new home, and 
says that she hopes to derive benefit from 
the change of air and surroundings. She begs 
that you will call again at your earliest con- 
venience, for she thinks that your visits do her 
more good than my medicine.” 

“So we are rival practitioners, are we?” 


86 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


said Helen, laughing. “ I will go there to- 
morrow; but you must not grow jealous of 
me.” 

“ I can promise you that in good faith, 
Miss Helen.” Dr. Herndon’s fine features 
were illuminated by a benevolent smile. “ In 
fact, I am so anxious to have Mrs. Lee’s 
health improve that there is nothing that I 
would not do to accomplish this object. I 
have been attending her for the past year, 
and during that time I have read and studied 
all the medical works I could find that had 
any bearing on the case, and I have consulted 
all the older physicians of the place. Dr. 
Vivian, who is an eminent specialist in pul- 
monary diseases, has gone with me to see her 
several times, and he and they concur in the 
opinion that she cannot live a great while 
longer, that medicine can only alleviate her 
pain, and that little can be done for her save 
to make the few months remaining to her 
as pleasant as possible. She is so lady-like 
and refined that I have taken the deepest in- 
terest in her, and I would be willing to give 
up my chosen profession without a murmur 
if Mrs. Lee might thereby be restored to 
health. You see. Miss Helen, I have not 
been a physician long enough to become in- 
ured to the sight of suffering. Perhaps in the 
course of time I shall become accustomed to it, 
as the more experienced doctors seem to be. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 87 

and then I shall not feel it so deeply as at 
present.” 

“ I admire your sympathy and kindness of 
heart more than I can express to you, Dr. 
Herndon.” Helen spoke quickly and im- 
pulsively. “ For the sake of your patients, I 
hope that you will never lose them.” 

“ Thank you. For their sakes, it may be 
better that I should suffer with them, yet it 
is unfortunate when a physician has an excess 
of feeling, for then this going from one sick 
person to another and suffering at each visit 
becomes extremely depressing to a man’s 
spirits, and it almost supplies him with an 
excuse for plunging into dissipation in order 
to dispel the shadows that pursue him wher- 
ever he goes.” 

Helen gave a little shudder. 

“ There is no danger of such a catastrophe 
in your case, is there. Doctor? ” 

“ I hope not,” he said earnestly. 

“ And I pray not,” she said solemnly. 

“ Thank you, my dear friend, for your deep 
interest in me. I am now a man of twenty- 
five years, and I can say with truth that I have 
never been intoxicated. I do not think that I 
deserve any credit for my abstinence. I have 
often felt strongly tempted to indulge in dis- 
sipation while in the company of my young 
companions, and I believe that I might have 
yielded but for the thought of the pain it 


88 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


would give my mother. I love her, Miss 
Helen, better than my life.” His dark gray 
eyes became beautiful with their tender ex- 
pression. “ As long as she lives I do not 
fear that I can keep in the right path. By 
the way, will you not waive ceremony and call 
to see her? I think that she would be as 
greatly charmed with your society as myself, 
and I am so anxious for her to have every 
enjoyment possible. She would call on you, 
but her health is so poor that she has given 
up visiting for the past few years, and my 
sister’s whole time is occupied in attending 
to her comfort, for she is as devoted to our 
mother as I am.” 

“ Thank you. Doctor, it will give me pleas- 
ure to call. Whom shall I ask to introduce 
us? ” 

“ Can you not go alone. Miss Helen? Per- 
haps, in my turn, I am growing too candid; 
but I want my mother to have an opportunity 
of judging of your character.” 

“ I will do as you wish. Dr. Herndon.” 

“ Thank you. Do you know that I think 
you would make the best and sweetest little 
wife in the world, and just the kind that a 
physician ought to have? But forgive me, 
dear Miss Helen, for I have not the right to 
speak thus to a young lady, for my life must 
be devoted to the support of my mother and 
my sister, unless Fortune smiles on me; and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


89 

until it does I must not offer my heart and my 
hand to her whom I love with my whole 
being.” 

He pressed her hand to his lips. There 
was an expression of intense devotion in his 
eyes, and he looked as if he would like to say 
more; but, with a sigh of repression, he left 
the room. 

Helen sat like one dazed for a few mo- 
ments, then her heart found relief in a flood 
of tears. 


\ 


CHAPTER VI 

TO THE RESCUE 

“ Oh, there be men and women who ne’er owned 
Of thy full-measured blessings even a tithe; 

Whose natural wants, health, money, friends, denied. 
Might well have sapped the core of sweet content. 
And caused them pine and fret and weep for change. 
Who yet go almost singing on their way; 

Such music patience makes in great, meek souls.” 

Mrs. Jane C. Simpson. 

T he love which Helen Demoville had 
waited and hoped for since her early 
girlhood had come to her at last. Her 
lovers had often reproached her be- 
cause their most earnest protestations of de- 
votion had awakened no response in her heart; 
yet she had not despaired, for she felt that 
when she met a man possessing virtues com- 
manding both her admiration and respect, 
her love would be aroused in all its intensity. 

It had happened just as she thought; and 
yet the circumstances were far different from 
those she had imagined. She had never 
imagined that there would have to be 
weary years of waiting for the consum- 
mation of her happiness. She had always 
pictured a brief, ardent wooing, a short en- 

90 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


91 

gagement, an elaborate trousseau, a stylish 
wedding, followed by a delightful tour in for- 
eign lands, and then the settling down to 
housekeeping in the style to which she had 
been accustomed in her father’s house. 

How different was the reality! She did 
not mind the prospect of the surrender of all 
luxuries, for her happiness had never been 
dependent upon such trivialities, and she knew 
that her love for Arthur Herndon was strong 
enough to enable her to stand every hardship 
which poverty could inflict. If the customs 
of society and her own innate modesty had 
not forbidden, she could have called the Doc- 
tor back as he left the house, and told him 
that she was willing to share his fortunes for 
time and for eternity. 

Yet even if she could have made such an 
appeal, she knew that Dr. Herndon was a 
man of too much principle and stability of 
character to desert voluntarily the duty God 
had imposed upon him of supporting his dear 
mother and sister; and if he married while 
his income was so limited that would be no 
longer possible. 

“ As we love each other, for either of us 
to wed another would be sacrilege. Will it 
be possible for the Doctor to improve his for- 
tune by hard work? I fear not, for there are 
so many at the head of the profession that 
there is little chance for men to succeed until 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


92 

they have grown gray in the service of the 
public, and even then they are often over- 
shadowed by the less deserving but more for- 
tunate candidates for favor. Shall I tell papa 
of my newly found happiness? I have never 
kept even a thought from him, and yet I 
must not speak of this to him, because the 
secret is that of another person, and it was 
only disclosed by the intensity of Arthur’s 
feelings, for he said he had no right, under 
the circumstances, to speak, even to me, of his 
devotion. Shall we have to wait twenty-two 
years, as that poor creature said she did this 
morning? Dear me! my age will be doubled 
then, and Arthur will be forty-seven. My 
cheeks would be no longer plump and rosy, 
but the wrinkles would be gathering at the 
corners of my mouth and my eyes, my hair 
would be thin and perhaps sprinkled with 
gray, and my teeth might be broken or re- 
placed with artificial ones. Oh, the sweetness 
of my cup of happiness is so mingled with 
gall!” 

She threw herself down upon the sofa and 
wept bitterly. At last she succeeded in con- 
trolling her grief. 

” Papa will be at home in a few moments, 
and I must not distress him with the sight of 
my tears.” 

She went to her room and bathed and pow- 
aered her face. Then she knelt down and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 93 

begged God to help her to keep from griev- 
ing her father with her sorrow. She took 
some of Emma Lee’s work to finish off by 
hand, and she was seated by the dining-room 
fire sewing when Colonel Demoville returned 
from his office. 

She rose and gave him a kiss as he entered 
the room. 

“ Papa, Dr. Herndon called this evening to 
say that Mrs. Lee had moved to your house, 
and that she had suffered no ill effects from 
it, and she said she felt as if the change might 
benefit her.” 

“ I am glad to hear it, Helen. So Hern- 
don is attending her, is he? She could not be 
in better hands. His father was an eminent 
physician, but in 1870 he fell a victim to that 
terrible epidemic of yellow fever. He prac- 
ticed with the disease on him, as long as he 
could keep upon his feet, and he died a few 
hours after they put him to bed. His death 
was lamented by the whole community. With 
his large practice he ought to have made a 
fortune, but much of it was done for the 
sake of charity. A great many of the ac- 
counts on his book could not be collected, and 
when the estate was settled there was little 
left for the widow and her two young chil- 
dren. I heard she had difficulty in making 
her scant fortune hold out to support them 
and to educate her son for his father’s profes- 


94 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


sion. This young man, they say, has inher- 
ited the old Doctor’s talent for medicine. In 
fact, he took first honors in the class of forty 
students of which he was a member, thereby 
securing the position of resident physician at 
the City Hospital. The rules forbid a sec- 
ond appointment, so when Herndon’s term 
was out some friends of his father managed 
to secure his election as County Physician, 
and he has held the office for several years. 
His duties are to visit the County Poorhouse, 
and to attend those patients who are unable 
to pay a doctor. There is a small salary at- 
tached to the office, but I should think it would 
take every cent he makes to support the fam- 
ily. Herndon is quite popular among the 
young men, but there is very little money in 
anything outside of family practice, and that 
is reserved for the married men of the pro- 
fession.” 

“ Papa, Dr. Herndon invited me to call 
on his mother, as she has been an invalid for 
several years. Have you any objection to 
my accepting the invitation?” 

“ None whatever, Helen. Mrs. Herndon 
was a dear friend of your mother. She is a 
very refined, cultivated lady, and I am cer- 
tain that you could derive great benefit from 
your association with her. She was a Miss 
Gregory, and she was a member of one of 
the most aristocratic families in South Caro- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 95 

lina. I should be delighted to have you visit 
such an elegant lady. Her son is a very hon- 
orable man, and generous to a fault. In fact, 
he is the facsimile of his father in disposi- 
tion. He would make an excellent husband 
for some girl, but his poverty will make mar- 
riage out of the question for him for many 
years. Most men would cut the Gordian 
knot by addressing a lady possessing consid- 
erable property in her own right; but Arthur 
Herndon is too proud to be willing to feel 
under obligations to any one for even a por- 
tion of his support; so I prophesy that he will 
remain a bachelor until the end of the chap- 
ter. Is it not hard, daughter, when he 
could make his wife so happy? For he would 
be gentle and affectionate, and as true to her 
as the needle to the pole.” 

“ It is indeed hard, papa,” assented Helen, 
and for a moment she wished he could know 
her feelings on this subject, without her telling 
him; but she thought: 

“What good would it do to distress him? 
He could give me no assistance in this matter, 
so it is best that I should try to bear it alone. 
I have not the comfort of an engagement, 
even though an apparently interminable one, 
nor that of expressing my feelings to my lover 
or any chosen confidante, for I must keep them 
locked closely in my heart.” 

Her eyes filled with hot tears, and they 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


96 

were almost ready to fall on her sewing, when 
she heard the faint tinkle of the doorbell, 
and she summoned all her self-control. In 
a few moments the old butler brought her a 
card which read: 

MR. AUGUSTUS VAN HOOSE, 

New York City. 


“ He is that blond dude who always spends 
his winters in our city,” she said as she 
passed the bit of pasteboard to her father and 
smoothed her bangs with her hands. “ It 
would be a thousand times more agreeable to 
me to spend the evening with you, papa, and 
finish off this work, than to entertain this 
figurehead of a man. Yet it is one of the in- 
exorable laws of society that a young lady 
must make herself pleasant to all the gentle- 
men who honor her by seeking her company.” 

She entered the parlor gracefully, and for 
several hours there was an interchange of ele- 
gant trivialities between her guest and herself. 
At last, when the bronze clock on the mantel 
sounded eleven silvery chimes, the young gen- 
tleman went away, and Helen gave a sigh of 
relief. 

“ Last week all this would have interested 
and amused me, but to-night it has only bored 
me. I am afraid that I am going to lose my 
taste for society, which would be a great pity. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


97 

for I will have to retain my place in it until 
I am old enough to retire.” 

She took up her album of photographs and 
turned to that of Dr. Herndon. 

“ His features never before looked so 
noble,” she thought. “ I am glad I gave him 
my picture to show his mother, for it may be 
as great a comfort to him as this is to me. I 
must take it out of this book and put it into 
my bureau drawer where I can look at it 
whenever I wish.” 

She gazed at the picture long and earnestly 
before she retired. Perhaps that was the 
reason that she dreamed of the original. She 
awoke with a start at an hour later than usual, 
and passing her hand over her curly bangs, 
she recalled the visions of the night. 

“ Oh, I thought Arthur and I were en- 
gaged, and now I realize that it is not so. 
Yet how intensely happy it made me! ” 

She sprang up and took another look at 
her precious photograph. Just then there was 
a rap at her door. She thrust the picture 
hastily back into its hiding-place. 

“ Come in. Mammy.” 

“ Mornin’, honey. Dey’s er quare lookin’ 
ol’ man down sta’rs ses Miss Bu’ns sont ’im 
ter cut de wood.” 

“ Well, Mammy, you can give him some 
breakfast and put him to work. I will see 
him as soon as papa has gone.” 


98 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


When Helen went out Into the yard she 
saw the old man sawing away, with a corncob 
pipe In his mouth. 

“ Good morning, Mr. Burns. How Is your 
wife? ” 

“Oh, she’s all right, be jabers; but I fell 
down yis’erd’y, and I broke two er mer ribs, 
— och, how it hurts! — an’ I jls’ wint ter de 
doctor-shop an’ got er piece er dis yere stickin’ 
plas’er, an’ I clapped hit on jls’ so, an’ I got 
up this mornin’ an’ come on ter mer wo’k, 
like er good b’y. Won’t yer give me er drink 
fer It, please marm? ” 

Helen shook her head. Mammy, who was 
passing by, clapped her hand over her mouth, 
and ran Into the kitchen. The young lady 
followed her and found her rolling on the 
floor and screaming with laughter. 

“ What’s the matter. Mammy? ” 

“ The ol’ man tellln’ de same tale the ol’ 
’oman tol’, an’ ’taint so ’bout ’nother one,” 
Mammy replied, as soon as she could speak. 
“ Don’t you know, honey, ef ol’ folks lak 
them break dey bones dey cyarn’t move fer 
t’ree week at de Inside? Hit’s er lie, an’ er 
big un at dat.” 

“ Course, chile,” assented the cook and the 
butler, who were eating breakfast. “ Dat’s 
all po’ w’ite trash Is fitten fer, ter tell lies,” 
added old James, with his mouth full of hot 
buckwheat cake, “ Ef I wus er rich w’ite 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


99 

man I’d set mer dog on de bery fus’ one whut 
try ter put ’is foot on my place,” stirring up 
the sugar at the bottom of his cup of strong 
coffee. 

“ Den de Lord done jes’ right w’en He 
made yer er po’ nigger,” growled Venus, the 
fat black cook. “ Ef de rich folks didn’t 
he’p ’em, some er dese ’ere baiggars ’d starve 
sho’ es de gorspel, an’ dat ’d be dre’ful.” 

“ Let ’em wo’k same es me,” snapped 
James, cutting up his steak. 

“ Dey cyarn’t allers git de wo’k ter do, yer 
ol’ fool ! ” retorted the cook, determined to 
have the last word. 

Stitch, stitch, stitch, went Helen’s machine 
all the morning, and by unflagging diligence 
she finished the last piece of work by two 
o’clock. Then she made a search for some 
car tickets with which to ride out to Mrs. 
Lee’s house. 

“ They are all gone,” she said. “ It seems 
that whenever your money gives out, every- 
thing else does so at the same time. I wonder 
if Mammy would lend me a dime? I have 
never borrowed any money from her, but 
working so hard has made me too tired to 
walk out there and back in time for dinner, 
without running the risk of getting sick.” 

She found the old woman sitting by a fire 
in her own room smoking her pipe. 

“ Come right in, honey, an’ don’t shet de 


lOO 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


do’. I lef’ hit open er purpose, ’ca’se I’m 
jes’ erbleeged ter keep mer eye on dat lazy 
ol’ no-’count w’ite man; he won’t wo’k er lick 
’dout ’e know somebordy watchin’ ’im.” 

“ But I hired him by the job, Mammy, not 
by the day.” 

“ Meks no diff’ence, chile. He’ll spin hit 
out inter er week so’s ter git y’all’s good grub 
all dat time. Honey, you don’t know de 
tricks er dese ’ere po’ w’ite buckra. Dey wus’ 
’n er mule.” 

“ Mammy, I am going out to Mrs. Lee’s to 
carry this work. If papa should come home 
before I do, please give him his dinner and tell 
him that I shall be back soon.” 

“ W’y don’t yer mek Jeems cyar’ yer in de 
kerri’ge? Dem horses is jis’ er eatin’ dey 
heads off in de stable, an’ you ain’t tuck er 
ride dese t’ree er fo’ days.” 

“ I would rather go on the car, because 
Uncle James would have to hurry back to 
set the table for dinner. Will you please lend 
me a dime. Mammy? ” 

“ De idee of er young lady er yo’ ’s’ability 
borr’in’ f’om er po’ nigger lak me! Not 
dat Mammy begrudge it ter yer, honey, ’ca’se 
I spec’s ter leab yer all I got in de freedman’s 
bank w’en 01’ Mas’er sen’ de angel ter tote 
me home.” 

She ripped open a pillow on her bed, and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


lOI 


took out a stocking half filled with gold and 
silver coins. 

“ Jes’ run yer han’ in, chile, an’ tek out 
w’ut yer wants.” 

“ Thank you. Mammy, a dime is all I want. 
You ought not to keep so much money about 
you. Somebody might slip in at night and 
rob and murder you.” 

“ Dey ain’t gwine ter know it ’dout you 
tell ’em, an’ Mammy ain’t skeered er her 
chile. ’Sides, I gwine ter put hit in de bank 
w’en it gits up ter ’ere,” touching a stripe on 
the upper part of the stocking. 

Helen found the Lees in high spirits. They 
were .delighted with their new home, and had 
received a visit from Dr. Markham, the min- 
ister. 

“ He has such charming manners,” said 
Mrs. Lee; “ I felt as if I had known him all 
my life.” 

“ Yes, he has great magnetism,” assented 
Helen. “ It is wonderful how he attracts 
the children. Did Mrs. Burns bring you the 
bundle of sewing yesterday? ” 

“Yes, Miss Helen, and I am so much 
obliged to you. The old lady is a queer cus- 
tomer, is she not? ” 

“ Indeed, she is, and I doubt whether she 
always tells the truth.” 


102 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Helen told them of the broken ribs, and 
they laughed heartily. 

“Yes, she makes a large draft upon her 
imagination,” said Mrs. Lee. “ She would 
have made a gifted novelist; yet she is very 
kind and generous. She rules her husband, 
but he is a perfect baby, and it is necessary 
that she should. One day while she was out 
he ran away from home and went to the hos- 
pital. Mrs. Burns grieved as if she had been 
devoted to him. In a few days he returned, 
and said that he could not stand the fare. 
My children considered that a very good joke, 
for we know that it is only on rare occasions 
that they have anything to eat except Irish 
potatoes roasted in the ashes, and often not 
even salt to eat with them. It takes all the 
old lady can make to pay the house-rent.” 

“ I must get Dr. Markham to look after 
them. There is a fund for that purpose. 
Now, Emma, I have brought my tools,” tak- 
ing them from the inside of the bundle of 
work, “ and I thought maybe I could help you 
to fix your machine, as I often do my own. 
Perhaps the screws need tightening.” 

Half an hour’s work put the machine into 
excellent order. 

“ I should say you were smart,” said Her- 
bert, looking at her with admiring eyes; “ and 
just to think, I did not know you could do any- 
thing but teach Sunday-school and sing ! Oh, 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


103 

mamma, how I wish that you and Emma 
could hear her ! ” 

“Will you not sing for me?” The in- 
valid’s eyes pleaded so earnestly for her that 
Helen sang, without further persuasion, all 
the beautiful hymns of which she could think, 
watching Mrs. Lee’s expression of delight as 
she sang. 

“ Language cannot express my thanks to 
you. Miss Helen. I can only ask you to sing 
to me always when you come, and I should 
like to have you sing ‘ Jerusalem the golden ’ 
and ‘ Hark, hark, my soul,’ when the time 
comes for me to die.” 

“ I will, Mrs. Lee,” Helen promised 
solemnly; “but I hope that time is far 
away.” 

“ I do not think it can be very far. Miss 
Helen. When a person gets beyond the 
reach of the help of medicine you may know 
that life is nearly over for her. Last even- 
ing I lay here and watched the beautiful sun- 
set, and I thought that just as surely as it 
would rise again on the morrow, so would my 
soul rise from the dead and rejoice in the pres- 
ence of its Maker. Death has no sting for 
me. Miss Helen. I leave my children to the 
care of their Heavenly Father, trusting that 
He will provide for them. I have only one 
earthly wish now, and that is to be reconciled 
to my father.” 


104 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Papa wrote the letter for you, Mrs. Lee, 
but it will be some weeks before he can get a 
reply. Now I must say good-by, for it is 
nearly our dinner hour. I will come again 
very soon.” 

On the way to the car she passed a house 
where the Wades and Rosses lived. 

“ I wonder if they would not take an in- 
terest in the Lees,” she thought. “ They are 
poor themselves, but I do not know of any 
one who does more for charity than these 
ladies, and they are fine hands at soliciting 
from their rich friends.” 

She walked through the pretty, old garden, 
and rang the bell. The house belonged to 
the Ross family, but, like the Apostles, they 
“ had all things in common ” with their 
friends the Wades. 

Miss Lucy Wade opened the door herself. 

“ Good morning. Miss Lucy. I know you 
are always busy, so I will state the object of 
my visit at once. I called to see you in behalf 
of an invalid lady, Mrs. Lee, who lives near 
you. I wish you would go to see her. The 
doctor says she needs pleasant company.” 

“ Oh, yes, I know her, and Nettie Ross and 
I went there yesterday afternoon, and the 
house was shut up, and we could not find out 
where the family had moved.” 

‘‘ Well, I can tell you. Do you know 
where that cottage of my father’s is, on Pine 
and Magnolia streets? ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


105 

“ Do you mean ‘ the haunted house/ as 
the neighbors call it? ” 

“Yes,” with a pleasant smile. “Well, 
papa has let them go there to live without 
paying rent, because he knew Mrs. Lee 
long ago in England. They seem to be in 
very destitute circumstances, although their 
wants are provided for at present. Still, 
there is a dreadful prospect before them un- 
less something is done for them very soon.” 

“ I judged so from appearances, although 
I could never induce Mrs. Lee to make a com- 
plaint. Emma sews very well indeed, and 
• Nettie and I could throw some work into her 
hands, for we often get more than we can 
do, and there is another way in which we 
could assist them. My class in embroidery 
started to make a crazy quilt last week with- 
out having any particular object in view, and 
it could be devoted to this purpose. Can you 
dispose of it when it is finished? ” 

“Yes, I think Mr. Hammond would raffle 
it for me at his dry-goods store.” 

“ Could you get some scraps of silk and 
velvet from your friends? ” 

“ I am sure that I could get a large num- 
ber.” 

“ I will teach Herbert how to join the 
squares. It may divert his mind from his 
pain, and persons will take more interest in 
the quilt if it is known that a sick boy did a 
part of the work. I have a friend who is in 


io6 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

the printing business, so I can get the tickets 
struck off for nothing. How many shall we 
have, and what shall we ask for them? ” 

“ Suppose we have fifty chances at half a 
dollar each? It will be easier to sell them if 
the price is low, and the money would be a 
great help to the family if they could receive 
it very soon.” 

“ I agree with you, Helen. You have a 
great many friends among the young ladies. 
Do many of them embroider well? ” 

“ I think nearly all of them do. Miss 
Lucy.” 

“ Suppose you get a number of them to 
come out here next Saturday and work all the 
morning on this quilt. In a few hours they 
could accomplish so much.” 

“ That is a capital idea. Miss Lucy. You 
may look for us at ten o’clock.” 

“ Why could you not get up an entertain- 
ment for the benefit of the Lee family? ” 

“ I think we could do so very easily. Miss 
Lucy. We can talk it over on Saturday. You 
have such a noble heart, and as to your head, 
if you had been a man I am sure that you 
would have been a major-general in the 
army.” 

“ Perhaps the poor might have not fared so 
well if I were not a woman,” said Miss Lucy 
with a sweet smile. “ I shall expect you on 
Saturday. Good-by.” 


CHAPTER VII 

IN THE PATH OF DUTY 

“ It is a little thing to speak a phrase 
Of common comfort which by daily use 
Has almost lost its sense; yet on the ear 
Of him who thought to die unmourned ’twill fall 
Like choicest music, fill the glazing eye 
With gentle tears, relax the knotted hand 
To know the bonds of fellowship again. 

And shed on the departing soul a sense 
More precious than the benison of friends 
About the honored death-bed of the rich.” 

Thomas Noon Talfourd. 

F or the next few days much of Helen’s 
time was spent in drumming up recruits 
to work on the quilt the following Sat- 
urday. She was astonished at her suc- 
cess, which she had not enough vanity to at- 
tribute to her own powers of attraction. 

“ After all, there is a great deal of good 
in human nature, especially among girls,” she 
thought, when twenty of her friends had given 
•her their promise to assist in the undertaking. 
“ Now several of these young ladies acknowl- 
edge openly that they have never done any- 
thing for the sake of charity; yet they enter 
into this with enthusiasm. If there were only 
more persons like Miss Lucy Wade to direct 

107 


io8 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

us and to take the lead in deeds of benevo- 
lence, how much better the world would 
grow.” 

She did not think that she deserved any of 
the credit. Her only thought about herself 
was a wonder that she could be so happy once 
more, after being so miserable a few nights 
before, when she had feared that her sorrow 
would last as long as her life. 

“ Doing good to others is the true source 
of happiness,” she thought. “ This experi- 
ence will teach me a lesson that I hope that I 
shall never forget.” 

Yet Helen was aware that her motives in 
helping the Lees were not unmixed with a 
desire to please Dr. Herndon. 

“ I love him devotedly,” she said to herself, 
“ and this is the only thing that I can do for 
him, except to call occasionally on his mother, 
for I know that it wouldn’t do for me to go 
there frequently, or at the hours when the 
Doctor might be at home.” 

Saturday morning was bright and beauti- 
ful, and the girls met by appointment at 
Colonel Demoville’s house. 

“ It is pretty early in the season for a pic- 
nic,” thought the driver as the twenty lively, 
chattering young ladies stepped into his car; 
“ but maybe they belong to a class in botany, 
and are going out to Forest Park to gather 
specimens. But they don’t seem to have any 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


109 

baskets of lunch, which doesn’t seem natural, 
for girls are nearly always hungry ; and where 
are the beaux? You can’t count on girls, 
though, for they are always starting some new 
fashion, and I have noticed that they delight 
in snubbing the men until they get to be about 
twenty-five, and then, great Scott ! how they 
change their tune ! ” 

The mystery was solved when the bell was 
rung at the corner of the street which led to 
Miss Wade’s house, and the bevy of young 
ladies walked off in that direction, chattering 
like blackbirds. 

“Dear me, what a clatter!” said Miss 
Lucy, putting her hands over her ears in mock 
displeasure, as they entered her exquisitely 
neat sewing-room. “ Now, I am not going to 
ask you to keep still while you are embroider- 
ing, although you would do better work if you 
did; but so many of you have been my pupils 
that I know that it is out of the question. But 
I want to propose the topic of conversation 
this morning and I hope we will accomplish 
something by a serious discussion of a very 
important subject.” 

Some of the fair foreheads were slightly 
puckered at the word “ serious,” but the 
cloud was lifted from them when they knew 
what the “ subject ” was. 

“ Helen Demoville and I propose to get up 
an entertainment of some kind for the benefit 


1 10 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


of a very deserving family,” said Miss Lucy, 
as the girls stitched figures nearly as beautiful 
as themselves on the bright scraps of silk and 
velvet they had brought with them. “ If I 
did not think it might do her harm, I should 
like to take you to see the mother, a refined 
and cultivated lady, whose life is wasting away 
with consumption. The little son, Herbert 
Lee, many of you have seen limping along on 
his crutches to Sunday-school; but there are 
often months when he is too sick to go, when 
he is confined to his bed, and suffers agony, 
even losing pieces of his bones from the acute- 
ness of his disease, white swelling. Besides 
these, there is only a frail girl, younger than 
most of you, who does what she can with her 
needle to prevent these loved ones and herself 
from starving. Girls, are you willing to assist 
her?” 

They promised, and some of the more emo- 
tional ones pressed their handkerchiefs to 
their moistened eyes. 

“ This quilt which you are kindly helping 
me to make is for the benefit of the Lees, and 
I hope you will try to get the chances for it 
taken. As soon as it. is completed, we are go- 
ing to have it raffled at Mr. Hammond’s store. 
Did he say he would do it, Helen? ” Receiv- 
ing an affirmative reply, she, continued: “We 
have put the chances at a low price, fifty cents 
each, and I will have the tickets ready for 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


III 


distribution for sale among you as soon as the 
quilt is ready for exhibition. We will have 
only fifty chances, so that the raffle may come 
off soon, and the Lees receive the money, 
which they need badly. But this twenty-five 
dollars will not go a great way in providing 
for a family in which there are two invalids, 
so we must do something else. 

“ Now, if everybody was as good as they 
should be, we could go to a hundred or so of 
our rich friends and tell them of the destitu- 
tion of this family, and, without being asked, 
they would make such liberal donations that 
there would be ample means provided to sup- 
port the Lees for at least a year. But human 
nature is so selfish that persons have grown 
accustomed to expect something in return for 
what they give, even for charity. So we must 
follow the fashion set us for so many years, 
and amuse them in some way for the money 
they will give us. But I look at it in this way : 
those who attend the entertainment will get 
the value of their entrance fee, and those who 
assist in getting up the exhibition will be the 
real donors, for they will give their services 
without money and without price! Now, I 
have preached my sermon to you, and I will 
leave you to decide what kind of an entertain- 
ment you will have, for, not being a woman 
of fashion, I am not au fait in such matters 
as you are.” 


I 12 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Miss Lucy left the room to allow the girls 
more freedom in their discussion. 

“ I propose tableaux and charades,” said 
Lucy Travis, in a timid little voice. 

“ Too old-fashioned and quiet,” replied 
Nellie Hunter. “ I would prefer a charity 
ball at Temperance Hall.” 

“ That would keep out all the people who 
do not dance, and there are so many balls 
given by our mystic societies that there would 
be no novelty in that,” said Fannie Harrison. 
“ For my part, I would prefer a theatrical 
entertainment.” 

“ Why not an opera? ” asked Helen Demo- 
ville, speaking for the first time. “ Almost 
every one is partial to good singing and act- 
ing combined, and we have so much musical 
talent in our little city, especially in our church 
choirs.” 

“ The very idea,” assented a dozen voices. 

“ I could get the theatre rent free, for my 
father is the executor of the estate that , owns 
it,” said Daisy Irby. 

“ Father would not charge anything for 
the gas,” said Hattie Orton. 

“ My father would furnish carriages for 
the performers,” said Mary Ewing. 

“ And mine would give it advance puffs in 
his newspaper and print the tickets for us,” 
said Jennie Craighead. 

“ Why, at that rate our expenses would be 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


113 

very light, and what we made would be al- 
most clear,” exclaimed Helen. “ Let’s see, 
that leaves nothing but the orchestra. We 
must see what they would charge.” 

“ You can leave that little item to me,” 
said Emma Brooks, smiling. “ Our family 
have taken lessons from the leader. Professor 
Herwig, for a long time, and if I go about it 
right, and get his sympathy for th^ Lees 
aroused, I think he can get the musicians to 
volunteer for this occasion.” 

“ I hope you will be successful, Emma,” 
said Helen. “ Now, as to our powers of 
attraction; do you think we could draw a 
large house?” Her face wore a comical ex- 
pression. 

“ Of course,” chimed several voices. “ How 
could such an array of beauty, talent, and 
fashion fail to attract a crowd? Look how a 
wedding fills a church, and this would be equal 
to at least a dozen weddings.” 

“What opera would you suggest, girls?” 
asked Helen. 

“‘Martha’ is the purest, prettiest and 
most popular one that we can think of,” 
agreed those who were better versed in musi- 
cal matters. 

“ Your voice is so good, Helen, that the 
part of Lady Harriet would suit you to per- 
fection,” said Laura Houston. 

“I? Oh, Laura, you are so much better 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


114 

fitted for that than I am, for you acted it 
once in New Orleans, and I heard that you 
had honors showered upon you,” replied 
Helen. 

“ For that reason, I should be willing to 
retire upon the laurels that I have won.” 

“ Yes, but the practice you had then would 
be more apt to make the opera a success, and 
that is what we are working for, and not for 
individual glory.” 

“ That is true, Helen. Well, suppose we 
both study the part; I will give you the bene- 
fit of any experience that I may have gained; 
and then we can draw straws to decide which 
of us shall be the prima donna at the public 
performance.” 

“ I will agree to that plan,” said Helen. 

“ Who ever heard of such an amicable ar- 
rangement between rival singers?” asked 
Emma Brooks. 

“ Rivals? We never thought of such a 
thing, did we, Laura? ” said Helen. “ Why, 
we are the best of friends, aren’t we? ” and 
they embraced in school-girl fashion. 

“ Emma, you are so lively, you ought to 
act Nancy. Are you willing to do so? ” 

“ Certainly I am, and let us have old Mr. 
George Werner for Lord Tristam.” 

“ We must invite Mr. Robert Gibson and 
Mr. Wallace Taylor to take the characters 
of Lionel and Plunkett. Their voices would 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


115 

accord so well in that duet, ‘ Lost, proscribed, 
a friendless pilgrim.’ ” 

“ That is a very good suggestion, Helen,” 
assented Laura; “they sang that air in the 
choir of our church last Sunday to the words 
of the hymn which begins ‘ Guide me, O 
thou great Jehovah and every one seemed 
to consider it quite a musical treat.” 

“ Just see how smart we have been, select- 
ing our choice and distributing the cast of 
characters, and making all the arrangements 
for an opera, and it is just twelve o’clock,” 
said Emma Brooks. “ But my extraordinary 
mental efforts have made me ravenously hun- 
gry, and I propose that we adjourn this 
meeting and go to our respective homes to 
lunch.” 

“Wouldn’t you all stay longer if you had 
some refreshments?” asked Helen. “You 
see, girls, we could accomplish so much on 
the quilt if we could stay here until four 
o’clock.” 

“ We wouldn’t mind staying, if our hunger 
was appeased, but it would not be right 
to impose the feeding of this multitude on 
Miss Lucy Wade,” said Emma, “ and you 
have no fairy wand, Helen Demoville, with 
which you can produce sandwiches and 
caramels.” 

“ No, but I know a store near here where I 
can get some things we can eat, and Miss 


ii6 ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Lucy will lend us her table, I know. Will you 
come with me, Laura?” 

“ Certainly, but have you enough money? ” 

“ My credit is good there. The store- 
keeper knows me.” 

“ Oh, that will not do at all.” A dozen 
purses flew open and a liberal sum was pro- 
vided. 

Helen and Laura soon returned with their 
packages, set the table, and Miss Lucy 
brought them in a large pitcher of buttermilk, 
which was very refreshing. 

“ I declare, it is better than a picnic,” said 
Emma Brooks; “and just to think, we are 
doing good, too ! ” 

After luncheon their fingers flew over their 
embroidery, and their tongues kept time 
planning the dresses they should wear and 
many other details. 

“ Oh, won’t it be grand when one of us 
comes out and holds a rose in her hand and 
sings : 

’Tis the last rose of summer?’ ” 

“ That always brings such a round of ap- 
plause. I wonder ‘ which shall it be, dear girl, 
which shall it be? ’ ” said Laura Houston. 

“ Time and the straws will tell,” laughed 
Helen. “ For my part, I would rather be in 
the audience and listen to your sweet voice, 
Laura. But do not let us decide the matter 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


117 

until the evening of the last rehearsal. We 
can invite some of our intimate friends to 
be present, so as to give us courage for the 
next night, and we can both come to the 
theatre dressed for the part, and some gentle- 
man can hold the straws, and we will draw be- 
fore the audience, and then the curtain will 
rise and the performance begin.” 

“Agreed. Who shall the gentleman be? 
We had better settle everything while we are 
together. Propose some one, Helen.” 

“How would Dr. Herndon do? He is 
Mrs. Lee’s physician, and he seems to take a 
great deal of interest in the family.” 

“ Very well, indeed. He is nice, and so 
handsome that he would add to the pictur- 
esqueness of the scene.” 

“ Now everything is arranged, and we have 
not disagreed on a single subject. Aren’t we 
a harmonious family of kittens? ” said Emma 
Brooks. 

When they were ready to leave. Miss Lucy 
came in and overlooked the work they had 
done. 

“ It is beautiful ! ” she said, examining it. 
“ I am glad to see that you have remembered 
so well the instructions that I used to give 
you. See here,” — she laid the squares on the 
table, — “ with the addition of those my class 
will do at their next meeting, I will have 
enough to complete the quilt. Nettie Ross 


ii8 ALMOST AN ANGEL 


and I will do most of the joining, and we will 
let Herbert Lee assist us a little, and the quilt 
will be finished in less than ten days. Then 
we are going to send it to you, Helen Demo- 
ville, to raffle.” 

The merry party dispersed, much pleased 
with the thought of the good they had ac- 
complished; and with several of them the day 
marked the beginning of a career of useful- 
ness which lasted as long as they lived. 

Helen was gratified the next morning to 
see the great interest her Sunday-school class 
took in Herbert Lee. They seemed to have 
been thinking of the boy all the week. One lit- 
tle fellow gave him a collection of beautiful 
story books. Another volunteered to go and 
read them to him whenever he was too sick to 
leave his bed. 

“ Miss Helen, mamma said I could give 
Herbert my goat wagon. Fm so large now I 
can’t ride in it any more,” said Tommy Jack- 
son, trying to look as tall as possible. 

“ I can give him a tip-top goat. Fve got 
two, and this one don’t eat anything but grass 
and brown paper, so it won’t cost Herbert 
anything to feed him,” said Willie Jemison. 

“ My goat’s dead, and I sold my wagon,” 
said Henry Johnston, “ but I can give him my 
harness, and then he can just sail around the 
block. Won’t it be jolly?” 

It was a pleasure to look at Herbert’s face 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


119 

and watch its radiant expression while this 
was going on, and to hear his hearty thanks 
to his classmates. 

“ I can ride as much as I please when I 
get my goat wagon,” he said with sparkling 
eyes. “ Dr. Herndon says the fresh air is 
good for me, and he takes me with him in his 
buggy every fair day when he goes out to the 
poorhouse, and it does me so much good. 
Oh, boys, you don’t know how nice it is out 
there ! There is a great big yard to play in, 
with large oak trees to shade it, and 
a flower garden, and an orchard, with 
all kinds of fruit, and a scupper- 
nong grape arbor as long as this church; 
and they live well there all the time, plenty of 
nice bread and molasses and soup and vege- 
tables and everything you can think of; and 
every Thanksgiving Day and Christmas and 
New Year’s one of the colored preachers goes 
around to all the gentlemen in town, and they 
give him money and provisions, and the peo- 
ple at the poorhouse have the biggest kind of 
a dinner those three days — turkey and cran- 
berries and oysters and ham and oranges and 
apples and raisins and nuts and everything 
else you can think of. I have been there and 
eaten with them, and that’s the way I know.” 

“ I wish I lived at the poorhouse them 
days,” said Joe Jefferson, a shabbily dressed, 
pinched-up-looking little fellow. 


120 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ The keeper and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. 
Parsons, are such good people, and their 
daughter, Miss Eliza, is almost as pretty as 
you are. Miss Helen, and she makes a perfect 
pet of me, and always saves something good 
for me to eat. I tell you, boys, if my mother 
and my sister were to die, and I had to go 
somewhere, I would rather go there than any- 
where else.” 

“ So would I,” said Tommy Jackson. 
“ I’ve rode out there with my Uncle Evan 
when he went hunting, and it’s just elegant, 
there^ and they treat them all splendid.” 

“ It’s a heap better than the orphan asylum, 
I can tell you,” said Joe Jefferson. “ They 
put me there once, and it was er awful place. 
They didn’t give you half enough ter eat, and 
they wasn’t nobody hardly ter tend ter yer 
clothes, so you had ter go ragged when they 
warn’t no company ’round, and the old ma- 
tron was awful spiteful; the boys said she 
drank; and she’d beat a feller jus’ fer nothin’, 
an’ lock him up in a dark cellar where there 
wasn’t nothin’ but coal an’ great big rats, 
and they’d scare the life out of you. So I 
learned how to write, and I sent a letter to 
my aunt, and she come back from Texas and 
took me out and kept me here, and I’d rather 
die than go back there again.” 

“ Oh,” said Herbert, shuddering, “ they’d 
never get me there — never, never! You 


I2I 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 

wouldn’t let me go there, would you, Miss 
Helen? ” with an appealing glance. 

“No, Herbert.” 

“You’d make them take me to the poor- 
house, wouldn’t you?” 

“ Do you think you could be happy there, 
Herbert? ” 

“ Yes, as happy as a sick boy could be any- 
where. Say yes. Miss Helen.” 

“ Yes,” she said, just as the bell was tapped 
for the closing exercises. 

That afternoon she walked out to see Mrs. 
Lee. She found her looking much brighter 
and stronger. Helen told her of their plans 
about the quilt and the opera, and she listened 
with great interest. 

“ How very kind and thoughtful you are, 
Miss Helen! I am sure the good Lord will 
reward you for all your kindness to me and 
mine. I do not see how we would have 
managed to exist without you and Dr. Hern- 
don.” 

Helen blushed at this coupling of their 
names. 

“ I am sure we have only done our duty, 
Mrs. Lee; and now here is your diamond 
cross. I forgot to bring it the last time I 
came.” 

“ Miss Helen, will you not oblige me by 
keeping it longer and wearing it when you 
sing in the opera? ” 


122 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Thank you, Mrs. Lee; it would add very 
much to my costume ; but I am not sure that I 
will sing. Laura Houston and I have agreed 
to draw straws at the last rehearsal, so as to 
settle the question as to which of us shall 
take the principal part, and if the lot should 
fall to her, I shall not appear on the stage. 
But if I should sing, I will wear the cross 
for your sake. There will be no danger of 
my losing it, for I see that you have your 
maiden name in full engraved on the back. 
I must go now, and if I do not come as fre- 
quently as usual, Mrs. Lee, you will under- 
stand that it is because I am busy with the 
rehearsals, and not from neglect of my good 
friends.” 

“ Yes, and if the end should come not too 
suddenly, I will send for you to redeem your 
promise of singing to me until I reach the 
gates of heaven.” 

“ No matter where I am or what I am do- 
ing, I will come, Mrs. Lee. I will sing you 
this now.” 

It was a sweet old hymn she had heard 
Mammy sing: 

“ ‘ Oh, sing to me of Heaven 
When I am called to die, 

Sing songs of holy ecstasy. 

To waft my soul on high.” 


Mrs. Lee listened with rapt attention. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


123 

“ Will you sing that for me at the last, Miss 
Helen?’’ 

“ I will, Mrs. Lee.” They pressed each- 
other’s hands in a close clasp, and Helen 
went home. 


CHAPTER VIII 


THE OPERA 

“ Music, which gentler on the spirit lies 
Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes ! ” 

Tennyson. 

D uring the next month the days flew 
by with the speed of lightning, as 
is usually the case when we are pleas- 
antly occupied. Helen found time 
for several visits to the Lee family, as well 
as for a delightful call on Mrs. Herndon and 
her daughter. But the principal part of her 
time was spent in practicing the part of Lady 
Harriet for the opera, and in preparing 
the several dresses necessary for the different 
scenes by making some alterations in various 
costumes she had worn at parties. 

Nearly every morning Professor Hermann, 
the music teacher under whom she had gradu- 
ated, came to give her a lesson in singing. 
This was entirely voluntary on his part, and 
because he wanted his former pupil to do him 
credit, as he was well aware that his success 
in instructing Helen had been the cause of his 
getting more pupils than anything else. 

“ Now you are pe-er-fect in your part,” he 

124 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


125 

said proudly one morning toward the end of 
March. “ The opera could come off to-mor- 
row night, as far as you are concerned, and 
I expect to be ve-ery proud of my pupil.” 

“ I thank you greatly. Professor, for your 
kindness in teaching me, and I hope to reflect 
credit upon your skill as an instructor ; but you 
know I told you that Miss Houston and I 
were both going to prepare for the part of 
Lady Harriet, and that we would draw straws 
at the last rehearsal to decide which of us 
should sing.” 

“Miss Houston! Ah, Heaven!” rolling 
up his eyes and clasping his hands, “ it would 
be a thousand pities if she should sing, for 
her voice is like that of a raven, and yours is 
like the nightingale.” Helen bowed in ac- 
knowledgment of the compliment. “ Nature 
has done its part for Miss Houston, I grant 
you, but overuse at an early age and a strain- 
ing for effect has ru-uined her voice.” 

When Laura Houston heard Helen sing 
her part at their first private rehearsal she 
clapped her hands with delight. 

“ Your voice is clear as a bell, Helen, and 
mine is as hoarse as a frog. I have suffered 
so much with my throat this winter, for I have 
been to so many parties, and I have taken a 
little cold at each one. I am going to pray 
that the lot shall fall to you.” 

“ Don’t! ” Helen raised her hands with 


126 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


an imploring gesture. “ I have sung so little 
in public that I lack confidence, and it would 
be just terrible to break down before that 
large audience, and spoil the performance.” 

The day of the final rehearsal came, and 
the performers in the opera had invited a 
few friends to be present, in order to keep the 
great theatre from looking so bare and empty. 
By request, Helen Demoville wrote a note to 
Dr. Herndon, asking him to be present and to 
hold the straws for Laura Houston and her- 
self to draw to decide which should sing. His 
answer was accompanied by some beautiful 
Malmaison roses, which he desired her to 
wear if she had any regard for him. She 
pressed the flowers to her lips before she 
placed them in water. 

“ Indeed, I will wear you, sweet roses,” 
she exclaimed, her heart throbbing with de- 
light. 

She had not met Dr. Herndon since the 
night he had involuntarily spoken to her of 
his love. He had called repeatedly at the 
house, but she had invariably been absent 
at rehearsal. She took out the half dozen 
cards she had put away with the Doctor’s 
photograph, and the faded violets and hya- 
cinths. 

“ ‘ Ah, when we love, we love so blindly,’ ” 
she quoted. “ I have had a good cry over 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


127 

each one of these cards, because I was so dis- 
appointed at missing the Doctor’s visits; and 
yet, strange to say, I love them.” 

The evening came, and Helen dressed her- 
self in the light blue gown she was to wear in 
the first act if she sang. At the last moment 
she placed the roses in her dress and ran down 
the steps, with her white opera cloak over 
her arm. 

“ My daughter, I never saw you look so 
lovely,” said her father as he took his seat 
by her side in their own carriage. “ You 
have the rose and the lily on your cheeks, the 
violet in your eyes, and the sunshine on your 
hair! ” 

Dr. Herndon met them at the door of the 
theatre, and he escorted Helen to the green- 
room. 

“ I wanted to have the pleasure of accom- 
panying you here this evening,” he said, “but 
a professional engagement prevented.” 

Laura Houston came forward to greet 
them. 

“ You are perfectly beautiful to-night, 
Helen,” she said as they kissed each other. 
“How are you, Dr. Herndon? They have 
decided that the drawing shall take place in 
front of the curtain, for the novelty of the 
affair. May I speak to you a moment. Doc- 
tor? ” 


128 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


They drew aside a few paces, and Helen 
could hear them whispering and laughing to- 
gether. 

“ There is the signal,” said the Doctor. 
“ Suppose that I go on the stage first, and 
make the announcement, and then I will meet 
you young ladies, at the left entrance.” 

He looked very handsome and aristocratic 
as he stepped before the drop curtain and said, 
in a firm, manly tone: 

“ Ladies and gentlemen : I am requested 
to say to you that two of our most talented 
singers have practiced for the part of Lady 
Harriet in this opera, and they have decided 
upon the novel expedient of drawing straws 
for the position. The drawing will now take 
place, and the young lady who draws the 
shorter straw will be the prima donna of the 
evening.” 

The girls looked beautiful when they made 
their appearance. Laura Houston wore a 
delicate shrimp-pink gown, and Helen was 
dazzling in a blue silk, with the diamond 
cross glittering on her snowy neck, and the 
roses fastened in her corsage. 

There was an approving murmur from the 
audience when the Doctor announced that 
Miss Demoville had drawn the shorter straw, 
and the trio left the stage. 

“ I congratulate you with all my heart. 
Miss Helen,” said the Doctor as he shook her 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 129 

hand. He felt supremely happy, for she wore 
his ^flowers. 

“ So do I,” said Laura, giving her a kiss as 
the Doctor moved off. “ I had my triumph in 
New Orleans, now for yours. But you look 
as pale as a ghost, and you tremble like a leaf. 
Sit here on the sofa while I get you some 
water.” 

She hastened after Dr. Herndon. In a few 
moments she overtook him, and laid her hand 
on his arm. 

“ Doctor, you had better come quickly to 
Helen Demoville. I believe she is going to 
faint. Oh, I am so sorry I persuaded you to 
cheat with the straws ! ” 

“ Will you please get her a glass of ice 
water. Miss Laura?” He hurried to the 
green-room, and was at Helen’s side in a few 
seconds. 

“ Miss Helen, drink this.” He sat down 
by her and held the glass to her lips. “ If you 
are not well enough to act, you need not do 
so. Do you feel faint? ” examining her pulse. 

“ I caught a glimpse of all those people, 
and I felt very strange. I suppose it was an 
attack of stage fright,” she answered as she 
began to revive. “ I have only sung in public 
at a few concerts we had when I was a pupil 
at the Conservatory in Cincinnati. I did not 
know the people there, and it is so different 
when you do, and the house will be so 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


130 

crowded to-morrow night. I had no idea that 
I was so timid.” 

“Nor I,” said he, admiring her all the 
more for it. “ Who is your physician, Miss 
Helen?” 

“ I have never had one. Dr. Herndon.” 

“ You have been very fortunate to escape 
sickness all your life, and you must have a 
good constitution. Your pulse is quick, but 
perfectly regular, and it is beginning to slow 
down, now that the excitement is subsiding. I 
could give you a dose of valerian, but it would 
be against my better judgment. Drugs are 
intended for the sick and the weak, and they 
are a positive injury to strong, healthy young 
ladies like yourself,” so spoke the conscien- 
tious physician. There was no one standing 
near, and he unconsciously took her hand as 
he continued to speak. “ Let me drop the 
role of medical adviser, and speak to you as 
your friend. I feel that I am not presuming, 
for you have honored me by wearing my 
roses as a token that you have some slight 
esteem for me.” 

The color was now beginning to creep back 
into Helen’s cheeks and lips at this remark. 

“ If you are really unable to take your part 
to-night, I think that I can persuade Miss 
Houston to act as your substitute, but, for 
many reasons, I should prefer not to do so.” 

Helen shook her head. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


131 

“ I promised to abide by the decision of 
the straws, and I have never yet broken my 
word.” 

“ Be it far from me to interfere with your 
high sense of honor,” he said, feeling quite 
guilty that he had yielded to the temptation 
of Laura Houston in cheating in the drawing, 
yet reflecting that it was only natural that he 
should wish to see the woman whom he hoped 
to make his wife win the glory of this occa- 
sion. 

“ Miss Helen,” his tones were very kind 
and soothing, “ I think your nervousness 
arises more from mental than from physical 
causes, and unless I have made a mistake in 
your character, you have wonderful powers 
of self-control. Now if you will reflect how 
much good you will do by singing for this 
poor family, — I have had many assurances 
that you would draw a fuller house than Miss 
Houston, — and how proud your father and 
all your friends will be of your success, es- 
pecially myself, I think that you can brace 
yourself up to the effort. Will you try? ” He 
looked at her with all his love glowing in his 
eyes. 

“ I will. Dr. Herndon.” Her heart was 
too full for her to say more. 

“ Thank you,” and he released her hand 
as he spoke. 

Her color had returned, and she looked 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


132 

gloriously beautiful. “ Will you sit near the 
stage to-night and to-morrow night, so that 
when I look at you I will remember my prom- 
ise, Dr. Herndon? ” 

“I will, with pleasure; and now they are 
calling for the performers to take their places 
on the stage.” He shook hands and was gone. 

In a few moments the curtain rose upon 
the first act, in which Lady Harriet is seated 
at her dressing table, and her attendants try 
to arouse her from the melancholy spell which 
has fallen over her like a cloud. During the 
opening chorus Helen had time to regain her 
self-possession, and when, after a short while, 
she sang a few lines in reply to questions ad- 
dressed to her by Nancy, her maid. Dr. Hern- 
don, who had never had the pleasure of 
hearing her sing before, thought he had never 
heard a voice so filled with liquid melody. 

Emma Brooks, as Nancy, wore a bewitch- 
ing costume of crimson cashmere trimmed 
with black velvet, which greatly enhanced her 
brunette beauty. She entered into her part 
with spirit, and her voice harmonized per- 
fectly with that of Helen’s. 

Helen gave a perfect representation of the 
ennui which oppresses the woman of fashion 
whose soul rises above “ the trifles that make 
up the sum of life ” in society, and she looked 
at Dr. Herndon as if she fully endorsed the 
sentiment of the words when she sang : 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 

“ ‘All my glowing, ardent wishes 

Please me not, are they fulfilled; 
What happiness I dreamed 
Always has disgust instilled. 

The homages they offer. 

Praise and honors they bestow. 
Leave me joyless, once obtained. 

Do not make with pride me glow.’ ” 


Nancy threw a saucy spirit into her reply: 

“ ‘ Then from ennui to save you. 

Nothing is for you remaining 
But to let your heart be conquered. 

Not a particle remaining.’ ” 

Then Sir Tristam Mickleby came upon the 
stage, and the audience laughed heartily at the 
merry romp which followed when the ladies 
attempted to “ teach him how the peasants 
dance,” and they pulled the old fellow around 
so that he scarcely knew in what direction he 
was going, and when he exclaimed, “ Mercy! 
— ah^ — I’m — out — of — breath!” he ex- 
pressed his own condition exactly, and the 
audience applauded vigorously as the act 
closed. 

Dr. Herndon came behind the curtain in 
a few moments. 

“You look like yourself, now. Miss 
Helen,” he said, glancing with unveiled ad- 
miration at the young lady’s glowing cheeks. 
“ You do not need any valerian now, do 
you?” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


134 

“ No, indeed, Doctor,” she laughed. “ I 
am so glad that you persuaded me to go 
through with my part, for I am really enjoy- 
ing myself. But Laura is calling me, so I 
must say an revoirT 

The next scene, which is laid at the Rich- 
mond fair, was very bright and sprightly, 
and the duet between Lionel and Plunkett 
was beautiful, and the audience applauded the 
singers quite enthusiastically. 

But the merry third act, with its spinning 
wheels, was the favorite, and when Lady 
Harriet, in response to Lionel’s request for 
a song, took from her corsage one of the 
roses she wore, and, holding it in her out- 
stretched hand, sang that beautiful air, of 
which the world will never grow weary. 


“ ‘ ’Tis the last rose of summer, 
Left blooming alone,’ ” 


the applause was so vociferous that Helen 
was obliged to respond to the demand for an 
encore. Dr. Herndon seemed very much 
gratified at the comments of some professional 
musicians who sat near him. 

“ I never heard that air sung better by any 
amateur,” said a man of noted musical taste. 
“ Emma Abbott herself could not surpass 
that.” 

“ Nor Patti, Nilsson, nor Kellogg,” re- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


135 

plied another. “ I have heard them all, and 
none of them gave me more pleasure than 
Miss Demoville has done to-night.” 

When the act was near its close, Helen saw 
one of the ushers touch the Doctor on the 
shoulder and whisper to him, and he left the 
theatre immediately. All her interest in her 
part vanished with his presence, but she man- 
aged to go through it with enough spirit to 
escape the disagreeable comments which 
would follow if the facts of the case should 
be discovered. 

“ ‘ What’s this dull town to m,e? Robin’s 
not near,’ ” she hummed in her room as she 
took out the Doctor’s photograph and gazed 
at it for a long time in silence. “ There is not 
a man in the whole world whom I could love, 
honor, and obey more readily than I could 
this one,” she thought as she remembered 
how he had influenced her to do her duty this 
evening. “ Yet, with the irony of fate, there 
are dozens whom I could marry, and only 
this one whom I cannot.” 

Helen slept late the next morning, and 
when she awoke. Mammy brought her up a 
beautiful bouquet of roses, accompanied by a 
note. 

“ Dr. Hernton brought ’em hisse’f in de 
buggy, an’ he tol’ me not ter wake yer, so I 
kep’ ’em in water tell now. Shall I bring yer 
breakfus’ up now, honey? ” 


136 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

“Yes, thank you, Mammy.” Helen tore 
open the envelope and read : 

“ Dear Miss Helen: 

“ Allow me to congratulate you upon the 
brilliant success you achieved last evening. I 
was prevented from doing so in person by a 
summons to attend Mrs. Lee. She is very ill 
indeed, and I feel uneasy about her. Yet I 
beg that you will not go to see her to-day, for 
the sight of her suffering might unnerve you 
so much that you could not sing to-night. I 
will see that every attention is paid to her, 
and the Misses Wade and Ross have offered 
their services in case they are needed. Let 
me advise you to stay quietly in your room 
all the morning, and in the afternoon you 
can take a drive, for the fresh air will revive 
you. 

“ I hope that you will be so kind as to par- 
don my presumption, but I recollected that 
you said you had no physician. 

“ Will you accept and wear the flowers I 
send? Words cannot express the pleasure 
you gave me by doing so last evening. 

“ I hope that nothing will prevent my wit- 
nessing the grand triumph which, I am sure, ♦ 
awaits you at the final performance. I am 
told that every seat in the house was sold as 
soon as it was ascertained that you would 
sing. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


137 

“ With the greatest respect and admiration, 
I remain, 

“ Yours very sincerely, 

“ Arthur F. Herndon, M. D. 

“ March 29th, 1883.” 

Helen followed the advice of the Doctor 
to the letter, and she looked blooming and 
beautiful when the curtain rose upon her in 
the presence of an audience which packed the 
theatre. The performance passed off even 
better than on the previous evening, but at the 
close of the first act Helen saw an usher hand 
a note to Dr. Herndon. 

“ Oh, I am so sorry, for Mrs. Lee must be 
worse, and the Doctor will have to leave the 
theatre, and his mere presence is an inspira- 
tion to me ! I am sure that I cannot sing as 
well when he has gone.” 

The manager called her to look at the 
flowers which had been handed on the stage 
for her. There were beautiful designs of 
every description, and among them a very 
elegant harp with the card of her father’s 
bookkeeper, Edgar Lawrence, attached. 
While all the performers were expressing 
their admiration. Dr. Herndon came up. His 
face was very pale, and he wore a troubled, 
anxious expression. 

“ Will you read that. Miss Helen,” he 
said, handing her the note he had received. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


138 

It was from Miss Lucy Wade, saying that 
Mrs. Lee could not possibly live but a few 
hours longer, and that it was her dying re- 
quest that Helen should fulfill her promise of 
singing to her at the last, and Miss Wade 
requested Dr. Herndon to bring the young 
lady immediately. 

“ I will go,” said Helen as soon as she had 
finished reading it. “ Will one of you gen- 
tlemen ask my father to meet me at the front 
door, and the other request Laura Houston 
to finish my part of the performance? Tell 
her that my dresses are all arranged, and they 
will fit her perfectly, and she is welcome to 
wear them.” 

She took the Doctor’s arm, and they 
walked in silence to the box where her father 
was sitting. 

“ Papa, Mrs. Lee is dying, and they have 
sent for me to sing to her, as I promised. 
Will you go with me? ” 

“ I cannot possibly do so, Helen.” The 
tones of his tremulous voice indicated great 
emotion and agitation. 

“ May I escort your daughter. Colonel De- 
moville? My presence at Mrs. Lee’s bedside 
is necessary, as I am her physician.” 

“ Certainly, Dr. Herndon, I should be very 
glad to have you do so. James,” to the 
driver, “ you must wait for your Miss Helen 
until she is ready to return.” 


ALMOST .AN ANGEL 


139 

They passed the first part of their ride in 
perfect silence. At last the Doctor spoke, and 
his voice was scarcely more than a whisper. 

“ You gave up your pleasure and the pros- 
pect of a great triumph to gratify a sick per- 
son’s fancy without a murmur, Miss Helen.” 

“ It was my duty to fulfill my promise, 
Doctor.” 

“ Yes, but there is not one person in a 
thousand who would have done it so cheer- 
fully and unostentatiously. I cannot refrain 
from expressing my admiration for your 
whole course toward Mrs. Lee, Miss Helen. 
You have acted so nobly and generously to- 
ward her, and your motives have been so 
entirely disinterested.” 

Helen’s heart was throbbing violently. 

“ No, Dr. Herndon, I have too much rev- 
erence for the truth to allow you to labor 
under such a misapprehension. A great deal 
that I have done for Mrs. Lee has — been — to 
give — pleasure — to^ — you.” Then, shocked 
at her own boldness, she covered her face with 
her hands. 

Then she felt them drawn aside. 

“ Helen,” the Doctor whispered, “ I love 
you dearly; can it be possible, darling, that 
you love me — just a little?” 

“ Not a little, but with my whole heart.” 

“ And you would be willing to wait until I 
am able to marry you?” 


140 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

“Until my life’s end, if you wish it, 
Arthur.” 

“ Darling, you have made me the happiest 
man on earth.” 

As long as their lives lasted, Helen and 
Arthur remembered that scene which fol- 
lowed in that chamber of death; Mrs. Lee, 
calm and composed in the presence of the 
Great Conqueror, her weeping children strug- 
gling with the first grief of their young lives, 
the sympathetic friends and neighbors, and 
the beautiful young lady, subduing her own 
sorrow and singing those exquisite melodies 
of the better land. She was in the midst of 
Mrs. Lee’s favorite. 


‘ Oh, sing to me of Heaven 
When I am called to die ’ 


when the dying lady made a sign to Dr. Hern- 
don to raise her higher, and as he complied 
with the request, her pure spirit passed 
through the gates of Paradise into the pres- 
ence of her Maker. 


CHAPTER IX 
IN Cupid’s court 

“ O love ! ’tis a wonderful passion, 

It makes or it mars us all; 

By love men may walk with the angels, 

By love the angels may fall.” 

George Arnold. 

G WINE ter year de weddin’ bells er 
ringin’ terec’ly,” said the old driver 
the next morning as he munched the 
leg of a broiled spring chicken for his 
breakfast. “ Dese ol’ years yeared er heap 
er sof’ talk las’ night in de kerri’ge. Hit 
made de ol’ man ’member de time he driv ol’ 
marster w’en he wus er courtin’ ol’ miss, befo’ 
de wah.” 

“ Hoi’ yer sassy ol’ tongue, Jeems, an’ quit 
talkin’ ’bout yer betters,” snapped Mammy, 
growing jealous because he seemed to know 
more of her young mistress’s affairs than she 
did. The old woman pushed aside her un- 
tasted coffee and rolls, and crept up the stairs, 
so as not to awaken Helen if she still slept. 

“ De angels is er whisperin’ to ’er, lak dey 
use’ ter do w’en she wus er baby,” she 
thought as she saw the young lady smile in 
her slumber. “ Hit may be dat Jeems is 


142 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


right, an’ Mammy gwine lose ’er chile. Ain’ 
gwine lose ’er nuther,” chuckling to herself; 
“ Mammy gwine foller ’er wherever she go, 
lak de preacher read ’bout Rufe an’ N’omye 
in de Bible : ‘ Wher’ dou go’st, I go,’ even ef 
it’s ter Souf Ermeriky or Af’iky. Dis chile 
kin allers manage ter fin’ somepin’ ter do fer 
her young miss.” 

Helen turned over and opened her eyes. 

“ Is it late. Mammy? ” 

“ Dat don’ mek no diff’ence, honey. You 
des’ lay still tell yer feels lak risin’, an’ den 
Mammy’ll bring yer er tub er hot water, an’ 
den yer kin tek yer baf, an’ rub yer skin good 
wid dis yer crush tow’l, an’ den de ol’ ’oman 
’ll bring yer brekfus’.” 

“ It’s a crash towel. Mammy, not crush,” 
said Helen, laughing. 

“ Hit’s all de same, honey, ef yer knows 
w’ut I mean. Might es well try ter get all de 
snags out der Massissip’ Riber es ter try ter 
rectify de ol’ ’oman’s talk at dis late day.” 

Helen found that Mammy’s prescription 
acted like a charm in removing that feeling 
of lassitude that follows a night of excite- 
ment and loss of sleep. She had arranged 
her hair and put on a lovely tea gown of white 
nun’s veiling and lace, and was leaning back 
in a rattan rocker, indulging herself in a 
happy day dream, when Mammy came in, 
with a troubled countenance. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


143 

“ I done tol’ dat nigger, Jeems, not ter let 
er soul put deir foot ’cross dat doo’ dis 
mornin’, an’, bress de Lawd, he done let Miss 
Laur’ Houston in de parlor, an’ say she won’ 
tek no ’fusal ter see ’er ’less’n you’s ’sleep, 
’ca’se she’s jes’ er achin’ ter tell yer all erbout 
las’ night.” 

“ Bring her right up to my room. Mammy.” 

“ Why, Laura, it was very sweet of you to 
come, for you must have been as tired as I 
was last night,” meeting her at the landing 
of the stairs with a kiss. 

“ Yes, but I took a long ride in the car- 
riage early this morning, and that always re- 
vives me.” 

“ Well, take off your hat, and have this 
large rocking-chair, and rest yourself while 
you tell me all about the opera.” 

“ It passed off very well, considering all 
things. Of course I felt like a fraud, and as 
if it were obtaining money under false pre- 
tenses and all that sort of thing; but while I 
was changing my dress, Mr. Phelan went be- 
fore the curtain and explained to the audience 
the sad circumstances which necessitated the 
change in the singers, and, of course, being la- 
dies and gentlemen, they were all very careful 
not to let me see that they were disappointed, 
applauding me whenever it was possible, and 
even going so far as to send on the stage the 
flowers intended for you. I took good care 


144 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


of them, and put them out in the dew last 
night and brought them to you in the carriage 
this morning with your dresses, which I re- 
turn with many thanks.” 

Just here. Mammy, beaming with delight, 
brought the things in. 

“ Oh, the flowers are lovely ! ” exclaimed 
Helen, examining the costly designs, with the 
cards of the donors attached. “ But, Laura, 
you really ought to keep them, for you justly 
earned them by your sweet singing.” 

“ Indeed, I never thought of such a thing, 
Helen. Why, most of the names attached to 
them are those of gentlemen with whom I 
am very slightly acquainted, or not at all. 
My having been away so much since we left 
school has prevented my being as well known 
as you are.” 

“ I tell you, Laura, what I thought I would 
do with these flowers, if you do not object,” 
said Helen, after a moment’s pause, “ and 
that is, to send them to be used at Mrs. Lee’s 
funeral. They always take away so much of 
the gloom that surrounds death, and I do not 
think there will be many others sent. Do 
you see any impropriety in my sending 
them? ” 

“ None whatever. In fact, as the opera 
was for the benefit of Mrs. Lee and her 
.family, I think there is a peculiar appropri- 
ateness in your sending them. I will take 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


145 

them there in the carriage for you this morn- 
ing, if you like.” 

“You darling girl! you are always so 
thoughtful and kind.” 

“ Oh, that is nothing ! But before I go 
let me tell you what I heard some of the 
audience say about Dr. Herndon last night, 
during the first act. They said they had 
never seen him look so well ; that he was posi- 
tively the handsomest man in the theatre.” 

“ He is better than handsome, for he is 
good,” remarked Helen. “ No one could have 
done more for this poor Mrs. Lee, and now, 
to-day, he is making all the arrangements for 
the funeral. Of course, the expenses will be 
paid out of what we made last night.” 

“You are blushing, Helen; but, dearest, I 
do not know any one whom I consider more 
worthy of your love.” 

“ He is not a marrying man, Laura. He is 
poor, and he has to support his mother and 
sister.”' 

“ Nevertheless, I shall expect to be first 
bridesmaid.” Laura’s smile was full of mean- 
ing as she kissed her friend good-by. 

Mrs. Lee’s funeral took place from Dr. 
Markham’s church, and was largely attended 
by nearly all of Helen’s friends. Everything 
was conducted according to the best usages; 
the pall-bearers were among the first citizens 
of the place, and Dr. Herndon helped carry 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


146 

the handsome coffin, which was covered with 
the flowers Helen had sent. 

Emma and Herbert seemed heart-broken 
at their great loss, and Miss Lucy Wade 
whispered to Helen that she was going to 
take them home with her for a few days. 

“ It would be too lonely and desolate for 
them in their own home, and everything 
would remind them of their mother. I think 
they had better stay with us for a week, and 
then we can decide what is best to be done 
for them,” she explained. 

That evening Dr. Herndon called upon 
Helen. 

“ My heart has been with you every mo- 
ment of the time, darling, but it seemed al- 
most like sacrilege for me to come sooner. 
Can I speak with your father to-night, Helen? 
I want to ask his sanction of our engagement.” 

“Must you, so soon, Arthur?” 

“ Why, certainly, Helen. You belong to 
your father, do you not? Therefore it is 
his prerogative to transfer his possession to 
me.” 

“ Yes, I know, Arthur, you ought to ask 
his consent before we marry; but that is a 
long time away from the present.” 

“ Long or short, the principle is just the 
same. The engagement should be sanctioned 
by his approval. Do you not remember the 
lines : 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


147 


“ ‘ I could not love thee, dear, so much, 

Loved I not Honor more ’ ? ” 

“ As you will, Arthur. My only reason 
for hesitating was that I am by no means 
sure of his consent.” 

“ In .that case, darling, it would be better 
for us to know the worst at once.” He looked 
at her with a mournful expression in his hand- 
some gray eyes. 

“ I will tell him you wish to speak to him, 
Arthur.” She left the room with a deep sigh. 
She waited in the library a long time while 
they were talking, her heart throbbing 
violently. 

“ I wonder what they are saying? But I 
will not stoop to listen at the portiere,” she 
thought. “ Oh, I think I shall die if papa 
refuses his consent.” 

The moments seemed like hours as she sat 
there listening to the tick of the clock. At 
last her father came to the door and called 
her. She entered the room without daring to 
raise her eyes, and stood in front of Colonel 
Demoville. 

“ Helen, my daughter, look up at your 
father and tell him if your happiness depends 
upon your marrying Dr. Herndon.” 

She raised her head, and looked at him 
with an earnest expression. 

“ It does. Oh, papa, I should pray for 
death if you refused your consent! ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


148 

Colonel Demoville took her hand and 
placed it within that of her lover’s. 

“She is yours, Dr. Herndon; and now I 
ask God’s blessing upon you both, my chil- 
dren.” He laid his hand reverently upon 
their bowed heads, and then he left the room. 

Half an hour later their bliss was disturbed 
by a ring at the door-bell. 

“I hope it is not any one calling to see 
me,” said Helen, “ for I have eyes and ears 
‘ only for thee, dearest, only for thee.’ ” 

She had scarcely finished speaking when 
the visitor was ushered in. It proved to be 
Edgar Lawrence. 

“ I will see you again soon. Miss Helen,” 
said the Doctor, taking his leave. 

The door had scarcely closed upon him 
when Mr. Lawrence began beseeching Helen 
to be his wife. She listened to him with ill- 
concealed impatience. 

“ I have given you an answer to that ques- 
tion several times before, Mr. Lawrence, and 
I think you ought to be satisfied that, as I 
am a grown woman and know my own mind, 
there is no prospect of my reversing my 
decision.” 

“ But I love you devotedly, I am a good 
man of business, and I think I could make 
you happy.” 

“ That would be impossible, Mr. Law- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


149 


rence, for happiness is dependent upon mu- 
tual love, and I have told you whenever you 
have spoken on the subject that I did not, 
could not love you.” 

“ You must give me a better reason than 
that. Are you engaged to be married? ” 

“ I could not give you a better reason,” 
Helen said, evading the question. 

“ Then, as long as you are single, I 
mean to address you at every opportunity.” 

“ I beg you will not, Mr. Lawrence; you 
will only give yourself trouble for nothing, 
and you will force me to be rude to you in 
my own home, which would be a mortifica- 
tion to my father, as well as to myself.” 

“ Miss Helen, when a man of my tempera- 
ment loves a woman, he leaves no stone un- 
turned until he claims her for his own.” 

There was a glitter in his small black eyes 
that made one think of a snake, and Helen 
gave an involuntary shudder. 

This scene was repeated, with slight vari- 
ations, for many nights. Mr. Lawrence 
boarded at a house diagonally opposite that 
of Colonel Demoville’s, and whenever Dr. 
Herndon called he was sure to follow about 
five minutes later. In fact, if the lovers had 
not devised opportunities for walking and 
riding, they would never have had an oppor- 
tunity for seeing each other alone. 

“I do not understand why that fellow 


150 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


Lawrence should visit you so often, Helen,” 
Dr. Herndon said during one of their drives, 
proving his mortality by a little fit of jealousy. 
“ Cannot you give him a hint that his society 
is not essential to your happiness? ” 

“ Now, Arthur, be reasonable, darling. 
As long as a young lady is in society she has 
to be agreeable to the gentlemen who call 
upon her, and papa likes this man. But I 
think you would be satisfied if you could look 
into my heart, and see how utterly distasteful 
his company is to me.” All Helen’s love for 
the Doctor shone in her beautiful eyes. 

“ Helen, I wish our engagement could be an- 
nounced, for I don’t think this fellow would 
come so often then.” 

“ So do I, Arthur, but papa objects, and I 
suppose he is right. Long engagemepts are 
rarely consummated, and I have always 
thought that one reason for their failure was 
the gossip that always follows their being 
made public.” Helen gave a deep sigh as she 
spoke. 

At the end of the week Helen went to see 
Miss Lucy Wade about the Lees. 

“ Old Mrs. Burns is in great trouble. Her 
husband died a few days ago, and although 
she did not care much for the old man while 
he was living, yet now she seems to be griev- 
ing herself to death because she is so lonely.” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


151 

“ I have an idea, Miss Lucy,” said Helen, 
when she had reflected a few minutes. “ How 
would it do to let Mrs. Burns live with the 
Lee children, and do their cooking as pay for 
her board? There are enough rooms in the 
house for her to have one, and it would save 
her the house rent she has been paying.” 

“ Very well, I reckon. Of course, she is 
not the equal of Herbert and Emma, but 
these poor white people always consider them- 
selves as good as anybody, and the old lady 
will have to be provided with a scapegoat to 
vent her temper on in the place of Mr. Burns. 
I wish the funds we have were enough to 
justify us in hiring a little darky for them, 
for a white child would hardly be tough 
enough to stand her abuse.” 

“ Yes, happiness is the negro’s birthright, 
and it seems to be hard to deprive him of it. 
But perhaps it is best. Miss Lucy, that we 
cannot afford it, for I am afraid there would 
soon be another little black angel; that is, 
if there are colors in Heaven.” 

“ I should not wonder,” said Miss Lucy, 
laughing. “ There is another old lady, Mrs. 
Kennedy, for whom our church provides and 
furnishes her a little colored servant to wait 
on her, and they always quit in three weeks, 
their spirits becoming crushed in that period. 
We tried to adopt the plan of not paying 
them anything unless they stayed until the 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


152 

month was up, but it made no difference. 
They invariably preferred to leave, even if 
they lost every cent they had earned, they 
were so miserable. Yes, I think it would be 
about the best thing we could do for the Lees, 
to put Mrs. Burns with them; for of course 
they cannot live alone, and she would be sort 
of a protection to them; and it would cost 
very little more to feed three than two; in 
fact, I think the old lady would save for 
them, for she has always been compelled to 
live on the smallest amount that would keep 
soul and body together. She seems to dread 
being sent to the poorhouse very much, for 
she thinks it would be a degradation to her 
pride. Your father would have no objection 
to her living there, do you think he would? ” 

“ None in the world. He is always glad 
to gratify me, and then he takes an interest 
in the Lees for the sake of their mother, who 
was a dear friend of his in childhood.” 

“ Well, then, suppose we go around to see 
the old lady this morning and make the 
proposition to her.” 

“ Very well. Miss Lucy.” 

They found her sitting over some ashes in 
the open fireplace, her head bowed, and her 
hands clasped around her knees, crooning a 
dismal ditty, a few words of which they caught 
now and then, something about being trou- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


153 

bled in mind. They let her sing on a few 
minutes before they disturbed her. 

“ Mrs. Burns, Miss Helen and I have come 
to invite you to go and live with Emma and 
Herbert Lee,” said Miss Lucy, “ and to cook 
for them, and take care of them.” 

“What! Me go an’ live in that hainted 
house where things is throwed aroun’ at night 
an’ nobody cain’t tell who throwed ’em?” 
She raised her head with a startled expression 
in her eyes. 

“ Maybe you would rather go to the poor- 
house.” 

“ Humph! ” turning up her nose, “ they’d 
have ter handcuff me before they could git me 
thar.” 

“ How would you like to go and live with 
Mrs. Kennedy?” 

“Me! An’ Miss Kannedy!” she almost 
screamed with rage. “ Why, we’d tear one 
another’s eyes out before the week was out ! 
Never! I’d rather marry the Devil and live 
in hell than try ter git erlong with such a spit- 
fire as her ! The very idee er sich er thing ! ” 

“ Well, now, let us reason about the mat- 
ter, Mrs. Burns. You cannot live here alone, 
and you have no one to live with you,” said 
Miss Lucy. “You have a shelter and food 
offered you in return for your services. The 
question is, will you accept our proposal? ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


154 

A long silence followed. At length the old 
woman raised her head and asked anxiously: 

“Them Lees hain’t seed nothin’ sence 
they’ve lived there, have they? ” 

“ Nothing that they could not account 
for.” 

“ Then mebbe the spell is broke.” A 
long pause for reflection. “ Baiggers mus’ 
n’t be choosers ! ” Another interval of si- 
lence. “ Miss Lucy^ — I — reckon — I’ll — hev 
— ter — go.” 

“ Very well, Mrs. Burns. Pack up your 
things and we will send a dray for them in 
the morning.” 

“Our. offer was received without thanks, 
instead of ‘ declined with thanks,’ like the 
efforts of so many would-be authors,” said 
Helen with a laugh, as soon as they had got 
out of hearing. 

“ Oh, yes, I have become accustomed to 
that sort of thing ! Of course, persons of re- 
finement, like the Lees, are grateful for 
favors, and it affords them great pleasure to 
give expression to their feelings. But those 
made of commoner clay, like this old woman, 
seem to owe a grudge to people who are 
better off than themselves. They are not sat- 
isfied with our Heavenly Father’s distribution 
of His favors, consequently they would rather 
die than acknowledge that you had conferred 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


155 

any benefit on them, even when, as in this 
case, it saves them from starvation.” 

“It is almost enough to prevent any one 
from being charitable to witness ingratitude 
like this on the part of the recipient, do you 
not think so. Miss Lucy? ” 

“ Why, no, indeed, child. It only teaches 
us to do good for the sake of sweet charity 
alone, and not for the reward of thanks. 
Besides, do you not remember the texts, 
‘ Charge them who are rich in this world, 
that they be ready to give and glad to dis- 
tribute, laying up in store for themselves a 
good foundation against the time to come, 
that they may attain eternal life ’ ; and ‘ Make 
to yourselves friends of the mammon of un- 
righteousness; that, when ye fail, they may 
receive you into everlasting habitations ’ ? ” 

“ Well, Miss Lucy, you have taught me a 
lesson this morning, and whenever I do any 
good hereafter, I will try to be sure that I 
am actuated entirely by motives of charity 
and not by the hope of any thanks I may re- 
ceive. Now, I must return home. Will you 
be so kind as to stop and let me know how 
the Lees are getting along under this new 
arrangement, the next time you come down 
town? ” 

“ I will, with pleasure, Helen. Good morn- 
ing. Oh, by the way. Dr. Herndon was so 


156 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

kind and thoughtful when he was making the 
arrangements for Mrs. Lee’s funeral. I think 
he is an elegant gentleman.” 

“ Yes, and he appreciated Mrs. Lee’s cul- 
tivation and refinement. Good-by. Come 
soon.” 

Miss Wade called on Helen in a few days. 

“ Well, I suppose we ought to be very 
well satisfied with the way things are getting 
along at the Lee’s, Helen,” said Miss Lucy. 
“ Herbert, seems bright and, happy, and, like 
all children, he appears to be recovering from 
his mother’s death rapidly. But Emma 
mopes and pines more than I like to see a 
young girl do. I sent for Dr. Herndon, and 
he said she did not need medicine; you know, 
in the new-style practice, they give very little, 
especially to the young. He said she needs 
cheerful surroundings, and it is just that that 
it is so hard to provide for her, she is so 
much more refined than most of the girls who 
live near her, and of course she and old Mrs. 
Burns do not assimilate any more than oil and 
water. I think it would be a good plan for 
me to let my class in embroidery meet there 
on Tuesdays and Fridays. That would pro- 
vide her with society for two afternoons in 
the week, at any rate.” 

“ That is an excellent idea, and I can take 
her out driving with me on two of the other 
days. How is Mrs. Burns doing? ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


157 

“ Well, pretty well for her, I suppose. 
She seems fond of Herbert, hut she rather 
resents Emma’s not having much to do with 
her. Oh, I forgot to tell you she had found 
something to vent her temper upon.” 

“That is lucky. Tell me all about it, 
please.” 

“Well, it is literally a scape^o^? this time. 
One of Herbert’s kids was limping around 
with a stiff ankle, and it struck me that the old 
woman might know something about it, so 
I asked her how it happened. ‘Yes, I know,’ 
she said, standing in the kitchen door with 
her arms akimbo, and looking at me defiantly, 
‘ fer I done it myself. He come er stickin’ 
his nose in the hominy pot while I was er 
gittin’ breakfas’, an’ I took er brickbat an’ 
hit ’im with it, an’ I’ll do it again if I 
choose.’ ” 

“ She is a queer old customer, and I wish 
that Emma and Herbert could be in better 
hands. I must ask papa at dinner to-day if 
he ever received a reply to the letter he wrote 
to their grandfather in England.” She told 
Miss Xu cy all about it. When she asked her 
father the question, he shook his head. 

“ Is that not rather strange, papa? ” 

“ I do not think so, daughter. Sir Hilary 
Herbert has the credit of being the most ob- 
stinate man in Christendom, and I suppose 
when he read my letter he tore it up and scat- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


158 

tered the pieces to the winds, and determined 
to go on in his unfatherly course.” 

“ It is a great pity, is it not, papa?” 

“ Yes. Any man who could act thus is a 
brute. Are the children provided for, 
Helen?” 

“ Amply for the present, papa.” 


CHAPTER X 

THE FORGED CHECK 


“ I do not see 

Why God should e’en permit some things to be 
When He is love; 

But I can see, 

Though often dimly, through the mystery 
His hand above.” 

Ophelia G. Browning. 

L ife ran in a smooth, sunny channel for 
Helen Demoville for the next few 
weeks. Her only grievance was the 
persistent courtship of Mr. Lawrence. 
“ It is a little singular,” she thought, “ that 
the blessing and the bane of my existence 
should each be a lover. However, I ought 
not to complain, for ‘ there is no rose without 
its thorn,’ and other young ladies, I suppose, 
are subject to similar annoyances. It would 
not trouble me so much if it were not for the 
fact that I have taken such a prejudice to 
this man. I think that he has a wretched ex- 
pression, and whenever I shake hands with 
him I feel cold shivers run over me; but I 
will try to bear it alone, for Dr. Herndon is 
worried enough already by Mr. Lawrence’s 
following him here whenever he calls, and I 
159 


i6o ALMOST AN ANGEL 

should hate to be the cause of a duel between 
them. Oh, anything rather than that! for I 
heard that Mr. Lawrence was a splendid shot, 
and Arthur might be the one to fall ! ” She 
shuddered at the thought. 

One bright morning in the early part of 
May Helen was seated at the piano trying 
a very difficult piece of new music which Dr. 
Herndon had brought her the evening before, 
when Mammy entered the parlor with a note. 

“ Yer par sent yer dis by Isaac, de office 
boy. He waitin’ outside fer er answer.” 
Helen took it from her and read: 

“ Dear Helen: 

“ A telegram from Liddell & Smith sum- 
mons me unexpectedly to New Orleans on 
business. Please pack my valise and send it 
immediately by Isaac. I expect to return 
by half past seven this evening, but if any- 
thing should happen to prevent my doing so, 
you can invite Laura Houston to spend the 
night with you to keep you from being lonely. 
In haste, 

“Your affectionate father, 

“ A. F. Demoville. 

“ May nth, 1883.” 

Helen complied with his request, and re- 
sumed her practicing. She became so ab- 
sorbed in the music that she was utterly un- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


i6i 


conscious of the flight of time. All at once 
she was startled by a pair of piercing black 
eyes looking straight into hers. 

“ Oh, how you frightened me, Mr. Law- 
rence ! ” with an involuntary shiver. “ I did 
not hear the bell ring or the door open, and 
you gave me such a shock! Is there any- 
thing the matter with my father or at the 
office?” 

“ Your father has left on the train, and the 
office is all right. I came to see you. Miss 
Helen, to get a final answer from you to the 
question I have asked you so often. It seems 
impossible for me to have a private conversa- 
tion with you at night, for that fellow Hern- 
don is always prowling around, confound 
him I ” 

“ He has as good a right to call as you 
have, Mr. Lawrence,” said Helen, irritated 
by the man’s insolence, “ and I will not hear 
one of my best friends criticised in that 
manner.” 

“ But I have pleaded so often with you 
to give me a better right than any one else, 
and you have never treated me with the con- 
sideration which a man deserves from the 
woman to whom he pays the highest compli- 
ment in his power. I have called now to 
ask you for the last time, if you will be my 
wife.” 

“ Mr. Lawrence, I repeat the answer I 


i 62 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


have given you always; I will never marry 
you.” She clinched her teeth and frowned. 

“ Helen Demoville, do you know that I 
have it in my power this day to reduce you 
and your father to absolute want, if you re- 
fuse my offer, and that I will not scruple to 
use that power? ” 

“ Mr. Lawrence, I repeat my refusal. I 
would rather beg my bread in the streets than 
to marry a man like yourself, whom I can 
neither respect nor love.” 

“ ‘ Revenge is sweet,’ ” he said slowly, 
looking at her with a venomous expression 
in his eyes. “I will make you rue that 
speech, my lady, until the closing day of your 
life!” He left the room, slamming the 
door after him. 

Helen threw herself down on the sofa and 
cried bitterly. 

“ Oh, I hope he will not carry out his 
threat! I should not mind it so much for 
myself, but for my father, with his gray 
hairs, it would be too hard and cruel! ” she 
murmured. 

The rest of the day dragged along slowly; 
it seemed as if it would never end. At last 
the twilight came and Helen heard her 
father’s footstep at the door. 

“ My dear papa, I have been watching for 
you so long that I thought you would never 
come,” she cried, throwing her arms around 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 163 

his neck. “ I missed you ever so much ! Did 
you have a pleasant trip? ” 

“ Well, no, daughter; it was an utterly use- 
less one. Liddell & Smith said they had not 
sent the dispatch, and they knew nothing 
about it. We inquired at the telegraph office, 
but we could find out nothing about it except 
that it had been brought there by a small 
negro boy.” 

“ Was not that very strange, papa? ” 

“ Yes, indeed, Helen. There is a deep 
mystery surrounding the matter, and I cannot 
help feeling uneasy about the affair. Liddell 
& Smith questioned their bookkeeper closely, 
but he seemed to be unable to throw any light 
upon the subject.” 

“ Did you learn the name of the book- 
keeper, papa?” 

“ His name is Lawrence, and, by the way, 
he is a brother of the man who keeps our 
books.” 

“ Indeed! ” Helen said nothing more, for 
just then Dr. Herndon called. 

“ How does it happen, Helen, that our hap- 
piness has not been marred in the usual way 
this evening? ” the Doctor asked as he arose 
to take his departure. 

“ Perhaps Mr. Lawrence has learned that 
lesson.” She laughed as she pointed to a 
screen on which was painted a picture of three 
owls on a very small limb and this motto, 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


164 

“ Two are company and three a crowd.” 
“ That was meant for a hint to him, Arthur.” 

“ Helen,” said her father next morning, “ I 
must draw some money out of the bank to-day 
and let you pay off all the bills we owe. We 
made quite a large deposit day before yester- 
day, the proceeds of an immense sale of cot- 
ton we had on hand belonging to our country 
customers, and our commissions will amount 
to quite a sum. I intended drawing it yes- 
terday, but that wild-goose trip to New Or- 
leans prevented. Make a little memorandum 
of the amount you need, and then give it to 
me.” 

“ There it is, papa.” Helen handed him a 
slip of paper in a little while. “ I am sorry 
it is such a large sum, but I tried my best to 
keep the bills down.” 

“ You have done splendidly, daughter, 
especially for your age. Well, I will attend 
to this matter as soon as I reach the office, to 
prevent forgetting it.” 

“Where is Lawrence, Payne?” he asked 
one of the clerks as he noticed that the book- 
keeper’s desk was unoccupied. 

“ He has not come down yet, sir, and I 
never knew him to be late before.” 

“ Perhaps you had better send Isaac to his 
boarding-house to see if he is sick.” 

The boy soon returned. 

“ He ain’t dar, Kern’ ’Moville an’ de Ian’- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 165 

lady say he ain’t be’n dar sence dinner-time, 
yistidd’y.” 

“ That is strange,” said the Colonel. He 
took the check book from his desk and filled 
out a blank. “ Payne, I will just step around 
the corner and attend to this myself.” 

“ Good morning, Mr. Miller,” he said to 
the cashier at the Savings Bank. “ Please 
give me the money this calls for,” handing 
him the check. 

The man took the paper and examined it; 
then he looked at Colonel Demoville with a 
queer expression. 

“You know that you have no money on 
deposit here. Colonel.” 

“ I — no — money — here? ” repeated the old 
gentleman in a bewildered tone. “ Why, see 
here, Miller,” drawing out his deposit book, 
“ we put $30,000 here day before yesterday.” 

“ And yesterday at two o’clock you drew 
out $30,000,” replied the cashier. 

“I? At two o’clock? Why, I had nearly 
reached New Orleans at that hour.” 

“ Don’t you see that some one has torn a 
check out of this book?” Then reaching 
down a file of papers, “ Is not this your signa- 
ture?” 

“ It is the cleverest forgery I ever saw 
executed. Who presented the check? ” 

“ Your bookkeeper, Lawrence, as usual. 
We suspected nothing wrong at the time; 


i66 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


yet, now I come to think of it, I saw 
him step on the train last night as you got 
off at the depot. He has gone to Canada 
like all other defaulters, I suppose.” 

“ My God! Miller, then my business is ut- 
terly ruined! ” gasped the Colonel. He could 
see now why the false dispatch had been sent 
to get him out of the way until the forgery 
was completed. Clasping his hands over his 
forehead, he walked home and almost fell as 
he clutched the bannisters at the foot of the 
stairs in his hall and ejaculated: 

“ My daughter, I am ruined ! That scoun- 
drel Lawrence has run away with all the funds 
belonging to our country customers, and it 
will take all the property I have on earth to 
repair the loss they have sustained! ” 

It was a fearful day for both of them. 
Colonel Demoville writhed in agony as if he 
had received his death stroke, and Helen tried 
in vain to console him. 

“ Do not grieve so much about it, papa ! ” 
she implored him. “ I am young and strong, 
and I can work for both of us. It is not half 
so bad as if one of us had been taken and the 
other left all alone in the world.” 

“ It is terrible, terrible, Helen ! ” he moaned. 
“ To think of losing my all at my time of 
life, and there is no other business in which I 
can* engage, and this requires capital. To 
think of these little hands that have never 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


167 

done a day’s labor,” pressing her hands to 
his lips, “ working for me ! Oh, that is heart- 
rending ! ” 

“ Papa, don’t grieve so, for my sake ! You 
will make yourself sick.” 

He tried to exercise self-control, but Helen 
could see that there was a fearful conflict 
going on within. 

Dr. Herndon was extremely kind, but noth- 
ing that the young people could do alleviated 
the wound the old gentleman’s pride had 
received. 

The next day Colonel Demoville went back 
to the office and made the preliminary ar- 
rangements for placing his property in the 
hands of a receiver for the benefit of his cred- 
itors. With his assistance they made out a 
schedule of the real estate he owned. 

“ Why, this is quite a long list of very 
valuable property,” said one of the most hope- 
ful of his friends. “ Cheer up, Demoville, it 
ought to bring more than enough to pay off 
your debts and support you for the rest of 
your life.” 

The Colonel shook his head mournfully. 

“ It might at another time, but property 
is considerably depressed here now, and it is 
nearly always sacrificed at a forced sale.” 

Helen never saw her father smile after 
his failure. She grew uneasy about him. 


i68 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


‘‘ This depression will kill him, if it lasts 
much longer,” she thought, “ for his high- 
strung, nervous temperament will give way 
under the strain, and then, oh, what will be- 
come of me? I do not mind the loss of prop- 
erty so much, but the misery of being left 
alone in the world. Oh, it is unspeakable ! ” 
She knew that in a very short time they 
must give up the house they lived in, dismiss 
the servants who had been so faithful to them 
all the years of their life, and adopt a greatly 
inferior style of living, if, indeed, there should 
be anything left to pay their expenses. She 
hoped to be able to secure a few music 
scholars among her friends, and perhaps 
make enough that way to furnish them with 
the’bare necessities, but she dreaded the effect 
of the change upon her father. 

The old gentleman would sit for hours 
without speaking, twirling his thumbs over 
each other, or picking at his nails. Sometimes 
he would mutter, over and over: 

“ I cannot work ! I am ashamed to beg ! ” 
One morning he went down to his office as 
usual, and in a few hours he was brought back 
to the house in a carriage. As soon as Helen 
looked at him, she knew that the end could 
not be far off. 

Dr. Herndon came immediately, and said 
that the attack was a stroke of paralysis. The 
young man remained by his side night and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 169 

day. Colonel Demoville lay in a stupor until 
just at the last, when a gleam of intelligence 
came into his eyes, and he placed his daugh- 
ter’s hand in that of the friend who had been 
faithful unto death to him. 

There was a large attendance of sorrowful 
friends at the funeral, and Helen was bowed 
with grief as she leaned upon the arm of her 
affianced husband when they followed the 
flower-covered casket to the grave. 

Miss Lucy Wade, who went in the carriage 
with them, insisted upon the young lady’s 
going home with her and not returning to the 
desolate house, and the young girl consented. 

The days went slowly, but quietly and 
peacefully. The Wades and Rosses were 
sympathetic and kind. No visitors were ad- 
mitted except Laura Houston, who showed 
much feeling for her friend in her misfortune, 
and Dr. Herndon, who came every day. 

One morning Laura called to say that, as 
the weather was growing so warm, her fam- 
ily were going for the summer to their cottage 
at Blount Springs, and her parents had sent a 
very pressing invitation to Helen to go with 
them as their guest. Laura promised that 
she should be as quiet as she liked, and not 
even take her meals at the hotel table unless 
it pleased her to do so. Helen thanked her 
warmly, but declined the invitation ; for there 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


170 

were many things that she must attend to, and 
they would take some time. 

“ Then join us later,” urged Laura. 

Helen shook her head sadly. “ I do not 
think that I could bear the sight of the in- 
evitable gayety at the Springs; but remember, 
dear friend, that I shall always appreciate 
your kind invitation just as much as if I had 
accepted it.” 

Helen felt that she must begin to form 
some plans for the future. She could not tres- 
pass upon the hospitality of this kind family 
much longer, for they were poor and depend- 
ent upon their own exertions for a living. She 
called Miss Lucy into her room to talk the 
matter over. 

“ My visit here has been so peaceful and 
calm that I should like to live here always, or 
until I marry,” blushing a little, “ and yet I 
must go.” 

“Why should you?” 

“ I have no money. Miss Lucy, and I am 
not willing to stay without paying board.” 

“ Well, we have been discussing the matter, 
also, and we have decided to make this prop- 
osition to you, Helen. Living as plainly as 
we do, and keeping no servants, our expenses 
are very light, only twelve dollars a month 
for each person. Now, if you wish to stay 
with us and are willing to take care of your 
own room, we will be glad to have you, and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


171 

you can pay your share of the bills, as another 
young lady did at one time.” 

“ Miss Lucy, you are very, very kind, but 
before I give you an answer, I think I ought 
to consult Dr. Herndon, for I have promised 
to be his wife some day.” She looked down, 
and her cheeks grew very rosy. 

” I agree with you perfectly, Helen.” 

That evening Helen laid the subject before 
the Doctor. 

“ I have a better plan to propose, darling,” 
he whispered when she had finished, “ and 
that is, for our marriage to take place im- 
mediately. It could be as quiet as you wish. I 
could not urge it when you were living in afflu- 
ence, but now the case is different, and I am 
so anxious to claim you as my own, and to 
shield you from every rough wind that 
blows.” 

“ Dear Arthur, do not tempt me to do 
what I think is an injustice to your mother 
and your sister. You earn only enough to 
support them now, and perhaps, if we wait a 
year or two, your practice may increase so 
much that marriage will be a wise step on 
your part.” 

“ Helen, do you not know, my darling, that 
your claim on me is far greater than theirs? ” 
He. made an eloquent appeal to her, but at 
last she implored him to desist, for her heart 
was pleading for him also, and making it 


172 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


harder for her to pursue the rigid line of duty 
she had marked out for herself. The next 
morning she told Miss Lucy that she would 
accept her kind offer. 

“ I am sure that we are delighted at the 
prospect of having you with us all the time, 
Helen.” Miss Lucy’s fine countenance glowed 
with enthusiasm. “ I will start out to-day 
and look for some pupils to take music les- 
sons from you. So many families are out of 
town, you must not feel discouraged if I do 
not succeed very well just now, and if you 
should not earn enough to pay your portion 
of the expenses of the house during the sum- 
mer months, it does not matter, for our credit 
is good and the bills can stand over until the 
winter. I wish we had a piano, so that you 
could give lessons here, instead of going 
around in the sun with your heavy mourning 
dress.” 

“ Miss Lucy, my piano was not included in 
the schedule of property to be sold, for it 
belonged to my mother and she left it to me. 
It is a very fine instrument, with pearl keys, 
and my father paid a thousand dollars for it 
in New York. Will you be so kind as to su- 
perintend having it moved here? I am such 
a coward that I do not feel as if I could ever 
go into my old home again.” 

“ I will, with pleasure, Helen.” 

She took a bunch of keys and a list of 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


173 


articles belonging to Helen, and when they 
were brought in the place seemed much more 
like home. 

When Mammy heard in some way that 
Helen was expected to take charge of her own 
room, she came tearing out to Wade’s house 
as fast as her feet could bring her. 

“ She sham’ do it, dat my chile sham’ ! 
Neber done sech er thing sence she wus born- 
ded. Mammy gwine come here ebery day 
an’ do hit fer ’er. Neber min’ ’bout who 
gwine tek keer er Mammy. I gwine tek er 
room some’res ’round ’ere, an’ pick up er leetle 
somepin’ ruther t’ eat. ’Ere, chile, tek dis.” 
She ran her hand into her deep pocket and 
brought up the stocking full of money and her 
check book, and handed them to Helen. 
“ Mammy don’t want nobody er dancin’ ober 
her grabe fer w’ut she’s got, an’ I allers tol’ 
yer w’ut’s mine’s yourn ; so now I gib yer all 
dis ’ere ter hab an’ hoi’ f’om dis time fo’th 
fereber mo’. Amen!” 

“ But, Mammy, I cannot take your 
money,” remonstrated Helen. “ This is all 
you have saved up for your old age, and how 
will you live if you give me all you have? ” 

“ Well, honey,” scratching her head, “ you 
kin’ jis’ gib de ol’ ’oman ’nough ter pay ’er 
rent ebery mont’ an’ er leetle more fer grub 
an’ ’ciety dues, so’s Mammy be buried decent 
w’en de good Lawd send fer ’er, an’ you 


174 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


keep de ballens, an’ use it lak yer want ter. 
Mammy ’d ruther fer you ter keep it any 
way, ’ca’se she ’fraid somebody tek it. No- 
body wouldn’t tech it w’en I lib in de big 
’ouse wid y’ all, but de t’ief ’ll come in leetle 
nigger shanty eb’ry time ’e git er chance.” 

Helen put the money away for the old 
woman, and she borrowed a little to pay her 
board during the summer, and returned it as 
soon as she was paid by her pupils. 

During the long, warm days Helen prac- 
ticed the rudiments of music diligently, in 
order to make herself proficient as a teacher. 

“ I feel almost happy once more,” she said 
aloud one morning when she was running 
the scales rapidly on the piano. “ There is 
nothing like employment for the mind when 
one is in trouble or grief.” 

“ No, ther’ ain’t, nuther,” assented Mrs. 
Burns, who had entered the parlor unper-' 
ceived by Helen. “ W’en I wus er waitin’ 
fer Clem Moore ter come back an’ marry me, 
did I set down in the chimbly corner an’ mope 
an’ fret? No-sir-ee-Bob-horse-fly ! T milked 
my eighty head er cows twict ever’ day an’ 
I made my fo’ pound er butter, and I turned 
the milk with runnet, an’ a’ter erwhile 
w’en mother moved ter er settlement on Leaf 
River, ther’ come erlong er tailor an’ he tuck 
board at our house, an’ he had eighteen 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


175 

’printices boun’ ter him ter learn the trade, 
an’ they all quit ’im but me ’n’ Ailsy Stone. I 
worked fer ’im at a dime er day an’ foun’ 
merse’f. We set on cushions on the floor with 
our feet tucked under us, an’ you could go to 
the spring ter git er drink an’ stay es long as 
you min’ ter, an’ I wusn’t er gwine ter kill 
merse’f er workin’. At the end er five year 
he give me five hund’ed dollar an’ a diamant 
ring cost eighty dollar. But this ’ere Emma 
Lee jes’ sets an’ sets an’ cries a’ter ’er mother, 
which she cain’t bring ’er back f’om the dead 
nohow, an’ hit don’t do ’er no good ner her 
mar w’ut’s dead, nuther. Ef she’d run eroun’ 
with the other gyurls hit ’d do ’er health some 
benefit, w’ich she’s got er very unhealthy 
color; but no, she thinks herse’f better’n air 
nuther po’ pusson ther’ is,” with a sniff of dis- 
dain. “ I come ter ask yer. Miss ’Moville, 
w’en that air house we’re er livin’ in is er 
gwine ter be sol’.” 

“ I do not know, Mrs. Burns.” 

“ That’s mighty quare, an’ you the owner 
of it, too. Well, what air we ter do then, 
w’en hit is sold? ” 

“ I cannot say, Mrs. Burns. I hate to think 
about the matter.” 

“ I jes’ want ter know so’s ter form mer 
own plans, ’ca’se I’d ruther be put inter fo’ 
pieces er plank then ter live in the house with 


176 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

Miss Kannedy, ol’ hateful hate ! Will yer let 
me know soon es ever yer find out ’bout hit, 
Mis^ ’Moville?” 

“ Just the very moment, Mrs. Burns. They 
will advertise the sale- in the paper. I suppose 
they are waiting for some of the people to 
return to the city, so that the property will 
bring a higher price.” 

“Much erbleege! I likes that Herbe’t. 
He’s a heap better boy ’n ’is sister. Well, 
good-by ’n’ God bless yer ! ” 


CHAPTER XI 

AT EBB-TIDE 

“ I am now in Fortune’s power ; 

He that is down can sink no lower.” 

Butler. 

T he next morning Helen was - aroused 
very early from her sleep by some one 
ringing the door-bell and pounding on 
the front door. It was Mrs. Burns, 
who wrung her- hands when she was admitted 
into the house and cried : 

“ Oh, get up, all of you, and come over to 
the house and see what is the matter with that 
girl, Emma ! She’s jest er layin’ ther’, es 
white es er ghos’, an’ es cold es er piece er 
marble, an’ I’ve called to her and called to 
her an’ shuck ’er an’ shuck ’er, an’ she won^ t 
say nothin’, an’ I b’lieve ter mer soul she’s 
dead. Oh, what er fool I was ever ter go an’ 
live in that hainted house ! All night I was er 
dreamin’, an’ I seen Miss Lee, jes’ es plain, 
come an’ lay ’er han’ on her darter’s fore- 
head, an’ now I know the gal’s dead. Come 
and see; oh, come and see! ” 

Thoroughly alarmed, all the family^put on 
their clothes hastily, and ran over to the 
177 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


178 

cottage. It was a pitiful sight which awaited 
them there — Herbert, crying bitterly, as he 
called his sister by every endearing name he 
could think of, and imploring her to speak to 
him once more, and Emma, lying pale and 
beautiful in that dreamless sleep which shall 
end on the resurrection morning. 

Dr. Herndon, having been summoned by 
a messenger, reached there almost as soon 
as the ladies did. He shook his head sadly 
as he laid his hand on the pulseless heart. 

“ She must have died while she was asleep, 
several hours ago. Her death was caused by 
heart failure, brought on by her excessive 
grief for her mother.” 

The rest of the day was spent in prepara- 
tions for the funeral, which the Doctor said 
should take place the next morning. Helen 
devoted herself to the task of comforting 
Herbert, who was terribly distressed. 

“ Oh, Miss Helen, I am all alone in this 
great big world, with nobody to take care of 
me!” he cried. “Don’t send me to that 
dreadful orphan asylum where the children 
are treated so badly! You know you prom- 
ised that you would not. Send me anywhere 
else, even to the poorhouse. I know I could 
be happy there, for Miss Eliza Parsons is 
such a nice lady, and she is so very kind to me. 
Send me to the poorhouse, please do, Miss 
Helen! ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


179 

“ Send- you to the poorhouse, Herbert?” 
Now that the time had come when such a 
thing was possible, the idea was very revolt- 
ing to Helen. “ Indeed, I will do nothing of 
the kind. I would rather work my fingers 
to the bone than even to think of your being 
in such a place ! No, I am going to take you 
home with me, and provide for you as if 
you were my own little brother; that is, if 
Mrs. Wade and Miss Lucy and Miss Nettie, 
and the other ladies are willing that I should 
do so,” turning to them. 

“ We cordially approve of your plan, 
Helen,” said Mrs. Wade. “ I think it will 
brighten us all up to have a child in the house, 
and we will all do what we can to assist you 
in taking care of your charge, and I think 
that the effort you will be compelled to make 
will do much toward alleviating your own 
sorrow.” 

They all stayed together that night and 
watched over the body, according to the cus- 
tom in the South, and when the plain little 
funeral was over they took Herbert home 
with them, and gave him a cozy little room 
which adjoined Helen’s. 

In an hour or two, Mrs. Burns came over, 
snuffing and crying. 

“ I seed in the paper over to Mr. Hobson’s 
store wher’ the cottage is er gwine ter be sol’ 
nex’ week ; not thet I keer, nuther, f er I would 


i8o ALMOST AN ANGEL 

n’t sleep ther’ air nuther night an’ hev dead 
folks er rubbin’ the’r ban’s over me, no, sir, 
not ef yer was ter give me a million er dollars. 
I heerd ter-day that some rich lady er nuther 
hed died an’ lef’ er house ter our chu’ch, an’ 
they says Dr. Mark’um is er gwlne ter turn 
hit inter er home, like, fer all er us po’ 
ladies w’ut hain’t got no husbun’s er pertec- 
ters; an’ I heered he wus er huntin’ er me now 
ter put me in ther’; but he’ll nuver fin’ me, 
no, sir, not ef I hev’ ter go out in the woods 
an’ hide, fer I tell yer me ’n’ Miss Kannedy 
nuver could ergree ter live under the same 
ruf, ’ca’se we’d be lak them Kilkinny cats I’ve 
heered Burns tell erbout in ’is ol’ Irish coun- 
try; they fit, an’ they fit, an’ they fit, an’ when 
they got through ther’ wer’n’t none of ’em 
lef’ ’cep’in’ er cloud er fur, an’ er few toe- 
nails; an’ I let you know it’d be my haid an’ 
nails, an’ not hern, fer I’m er born fighter.” 

Helen could well believe it, as she looked 
at her excited face. 

“ But I’ve got ter live somewher’s untel 
or Master calls fer me ter go, so I’ve made 
up my mind ter go ter the po’house, an’ I’m 
on mer way ther’ now, ’ca’se I don’t want ter 
stay nair nuther night in that hainted house, 
’ca’se Emma’ll be er prowlin’ eroun’ ’erse’f. 
I’m er gwine ter walk out ther’ this very 
evenin’. Mr. Pa’sons’ll let me stay all night 
w’en I tell ’im how things is, I know, an’ 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


i8i 


then they kin git the papers made out ter- 
morrer, an’ so I jes’ stopped by ter git the 
leetle boy. Come on, Herbert, an’ go with 
me. Yer know yer allers said yer’d ruther 
go ther’ then ter be put inter the olphin ersy- 
lum, an’ hit’s one er t’other this time, sho’ es 
shootin’.” 

The boy began to cry, and Helen put her 
arm affectionately around his shoulder. 

“ Do not be frightened,” she said sooth- 
ingly. “ I have not forgotten my promise, 
and I am going to keep you with me.” 

“ With you? ” Mrs. Burns opened her eyes 
wide in astonishment. “ W’y, wher’ on the 
airth are yer goin’ ter git the money ter pay 
’is way with? ” 

“ ‘ The Lord will provide,’ ” quoted Helen 
reverently. “ I will make an honest effort, 
and if I have faith, ‘ even as a grain of mus- 
tard seed,’ I shall be successful.” 

“ I glory in yer spunk. Miss ’Moville. 
Course I wanted the chile, an’ I’d er tuck 
good keer on ’im, lak I allers has done; but 
anybody kin see outen half er eye thet this ’ere 
boy’s come er good blood, an’ mebbe he’d 
pine an’ fret an’ be mis’able ’mongst t’other 
po’ folks, lak ’is sister Emma done, ’specially 
w’en ’e grows er leetle older. Well, good-by, 
Herbert, God bless ye ! ” she pressed her with- 
ered lips to his forehead, “ an’ I hope the 
Lord’ll ’ward yer fer yer kindness ter the 


i 82 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


olphin, Miss ’Moville,” shaking hands. “ I 
mus’ be er gittin’ erlong tow’ds the po’house, 
’ca’se hit’s better’n fo’ mile, an’ that’s er good 
long piece fer er ol’ woman lak merse’f. This 
’ere’s somepin’ I nuver ’lowed ter come ter, 
’ca’se I wus allers willin’ ter wo’k untel I 
got too ol’ ; but mebbe the good Lord knows 
best; I’m er gwine ter try ter think thet He 
does.” 

She wiped the tears from her faded old 
eyes, and then trudged away. Helen’s heart 
ached because her own means were so limited 
that she was not able to provide her with the 
small amount that would keep her from 
starving. 

Herbert’s eyes were swollen from crying 
so much, so Helen made him lie down, and 
stroked his head and face gently with her 
fingers, and soon he was in a very sound sleep. 
Mammy crept in on tiptoe. 

“ I declar’. Miss Helen, dat’s de fus’ time 
I eber seed de boy,” she whispered. “ W’y, 
I allers t’ought dey wus po’ w’ite trash lak 
Miss Bu’ns, ’ca’se dey all libed ’long one er- 
nudder. I be’n po’ly, honey, er I’d er come 
ter de fun’al,” apologetically. “ But any- 
body kin jis’ look at dis chile an’ see ’is fine 
hyar an’ ’is smoof skin, an’ dey’d know right 
erway he wus quality.” 

She sat and gazed at him without speaking, 
brushing the mosquitoes away from his face 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


183 

with her turkey-tail fan until her charge 
awoke. When Herbert opened those mag- 
nificent brown eyes of his with their long, 
silken lashes, Mammy’s astonishment in- 
creased greatly. 

“ This ain’t no common chile, is it. Miss 
Helen? He look lak he par might er be’n er 
king in de ol’ kentry.” 

“ No, Mammy, he is not common,” an- 
swered Helen. “ My father knew his mother 
in England. They were schoolmates or play- 
mates when they were young people, and he 
said they were an elegant family, and they 
lived in a castle.” 

“ I tol’ yer so,” chuckled the old woman; 
“ yer cain’t fool dis chile, ’ca’se ol’ Cla’issy 
know quality whereber she see ’em. De rich 
blood’ll tell anywher’ ; hit’ll show in de 
skin an’ de hyar,” rubbing her hand over 
Herbert’s head, “ an’ eben in de nails an’ de 
feet an’ de ban’s. Mammy so sorry fer de 
po’ chile. Who gwine tek keer fer him. 
Miss Helen, now he mar an’ he sis’er done 
daid?” 

“ I am going to try to do so. Mammy.” 

“You? My po’ mistiss’s chile, how is 
you gwine do hit w’en yer ain’t got ’nough er 
de money yer mudder lef’ yer ter buy salt ter 
pickle er jaybird wid? Honey, you jes’ tek 
some er dat outen Mammy stockin’. Mam- 
my wouldn’t do nofin’ ’t all fer de chile ef ’e 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


184 

wus buckra, she do hit ’ca’se he quality lak 
you, honey.” 

“ Well, Mammy, perhaps I shall borrow 
some of your money if my music pupils do not 
commence to take lessons soon. 

That evening Dr. Herndon called. 

“ Helen, how does Herbert seem to be? ” 
he asked. 

“ He is resting quietly now, Arthur, and I 
think that he is asleep.” 

“ Poor little fellow! He used to say that 
he wanted to live at the poorhouse when his 
mother and his sister should die, because he 
was always treated so kindly when I took him 
out there with me. He seemed to have a 
dread of going to the orphan asylum. Has 
he mentioned the subject to you to-day? ” 

“ Yes, Arthur, he reminded me of a prom- 
ise that I had made him that I would send 
him to the poorhouse.” 

“ What did you tell him, Helen? ” 

“ Arthur, the idea of having this aristo- 
cratic boy intimately associated with paupers 
was so revolting to me that, on the impulse 
of the moment, I told Herbert that I would 
take care of him myself,, and he should never 
go to the poorhouse. Of course, dearest, I 
should have asked your consent before mak- 
ing this arrangement, and I hope you will for- 
give me for not doing so, but I thought that 
you would be willing, as your disposition is so 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 185 

noble. I think Nature must have intended 
me for a crab, I am always doing things back- 
wards. Will you give your consent to my 
plan, my dear Arthur? ” 

^ She was so beautiful, and she looked at 
him in such a winning way that Dr. Herndon 
felt as if he could refuse nothing that she 
asked. 

“ I am willing for you to take care of the 
boy, Helen, but I will pay his expenses my- 
self.” 

“ Now, Arthur,” she remonstrated, “ Mam- 
my has taken a great fancy to him, and she 
says that I can use her money; besides, I shall 
be rolling in wealth when I get all my music 
pupils.” 

“ No, Helen, I will take that burden from 
your shoulders.” He spoke affectionately, 
and yet so firmly that Helen felt as if she 
must not contend with him. “ I cannot have 
my future wife working herself to death. 
Darling, I have a prospect of obtaining a 
more lucrative position next spring, and, if I 
succeed, our marriage must take place as soon 
afterwards as possible.” 

“ Yes, Arthur.” Helen’s face was radiant 
with delight. “ When we are married will 
you let me take care of Herbert as before? ” 

“ ‘When we are married,’ Helen,” — there 
was marvelous sweetness in the Doctor’s voice 
— “ I do not think that I can ever leave a wish 


t86 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


of yours ungratified. Dearest, will you go 
with me now to see my mother? She has 
learned to love you already as a daughter, and 
I should like to have you go with me to visit 
her every evening.” 

At first Helen went as a matter of duty, 
but soon she began to enjoy these calls very 
much indeed. Mrs. Herndon and Miss Leila 
were quite intelligent ladies, and Helen was 
often highly amused at the bright sallies of 
wit which passed between the trio. 

“ I hope that you do not consider my tak- 
ing you so often to our home as an imposition 
on your good nature, Helen,” the Doctor 
said as they were returning from one of these 
visits. “ You seem to enjoy going, and my 
mother and my sister consider your calls as 
their greatest pleasure.” 

“ Going there has become the delight of 
my life, Arthur,” replied Helen. “ At first 
I went merely to please you ; I could not help 
feeling a little timid and nervous, fearing 
that the ladies might not be favorably im- 
pressed with me; but that has worn away 
by degrees, and I have learned to love your 
mother and Leila dearly for your sake, and 
because they resemble you. Then the walks 
with you are just heavenly, Arthur, even if 
you should not speak a word.” 

“ Thank you, Helen. My darling, I be- 
lieve you are almost as much in love with me 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


187 

as I am with you. Promise me, will you not, 
that you will be my wife in the spring, whether 
I get that appointment or not? ” 

“ Dear Arthur, in April I will consent to 
share your fortune, whatever it may be, for 
time and eternity; ‘ for better or worse, for 
richer or poorer, in sickness and in health 
until death us do part.’ Laura Houston has 
returned now, and she has been so kind about 
getting music pupils for me. She does not 
mind asking any one, and many of the people 
that I used to visit send their children to me. 
I have twenty pupils now, and that is as many 
as I can teach — six hours every day and eight 
on Saturday.” 

“ I am afraid you are working too hard, 
Helen. It almost breaks my heart to think 
of your having to toil, when you have never 
been accustomed to doing so.” 

“ Arthur, except for the loss of my father, 
which is still a deep grief to me, I am happier 
now than when 1 was frittering away my 
time in society; for my life is devoted to a 
good purpose now, and I accomplish a great 
deal by my efforts. I have a quiet, peaceful 
home among Christian people who care noth- 
ing for ‘ the fashion of this world which 
passes away.’ Work is the best remedy for 
me, dear Arthur, for it keeps me from mop- 
ing, and it helps me to forget my recent afflic- 
tion. Besides, I appreciate the fact that I 


i88 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


am able to support myself by my own exer- 
tions. Father’s property sold for much less 
than its real value. That Lee cottage brought 
only fifty dollars because it was said to be 
haunted, and the present owner has made it 
into a store and he will rent it for two hun- 
dred dollars a year. There was just barely 
enough money from the sale to pay off the 
claims of my father’s creditors, and not a 
cent left for me. If I were not earning this 
hundred dollars every month, I should be 
quite poor, and as I could not marry you with- 
out a decent trousseau, I do not see how our 
marriage could ever have taken place.” 

“ All is for the best, no doubt, Helen. You 
will be willing to live at my present home with 
my mother and sister when we are married, 
will you not, darling? ” 

“ I should prefer to live there and have 
them with us. Your mother can guide me in 
many matters about which I am ignorant, be- 
cause I lost my mother at such a tender age.” 

“ Helen, you make me love you more than 
ever when you talk that way. You are so 
lovely that I am not afraid of ‘ family jars ’ 
caused by your living in the house with your 
mother-in-law. When these terrible house- 
hold cyclones occur, generally both parties 
are to blame; but frequently the younger 
woman is more so than the elder, whose judg- 
ment is riper. Of course, a man must take 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 189 

his wife’s side in a conflict of this kind, for 
he has vowed at God’s altar to ‘ forsake all 
others and cleave only unto her ’ ; but I do not 
see how he could love his wife with his whole 
heart, as before, when he reflected that she 
had been the cause of his alienation from the 
mother who gave him birth.” 

“ I promise you, Arthur, that nothing of 
this kind shall ever occur between us. I do 
not see how it could happen unless I put my- 
self first, and selfishness is not one of my 
faults, do you think so?” 

“ No, indeed, Helen, the reverse is the 
case with you, for you are extremely unselfish. 
In fact, darling, I have not yet been able to 
discover a single fault in you.” 

“Well, then, Arthur, please begin the dis- 
covery right now, for I am made up of faults, 
and it would be really too discouraging to 
have you find out a new one every day for 
six months after our marriage. Perhaps I 
had better make you my father confessor, and 
give you a category of my imperfections at 
once. In the first place, I am terribly lazy, 
and it is a great trial to me to get up for the 
seven o’clock breakfast at the Wade’s.” 

“Yet Miss Lucy says you are always in 
time.” 

“ Then I am very self-willed.” 

“ But you have always done as I wished 
since we have been engaged. I am sure that 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


190 

you will obey me when we are married, 
Helen, for whenever you fail in doing so you 
will break your sacred vow, and I know your 
tender conscience would not allow you to do 
that.” , 

“ Arthur, you are so kind in making ex- 
cuses for me that it takes away all the humilia- 
tion of confession. But here is a terrible 
fault for any lady to have : I am neat, yet I am 
not orderly. I put things down just wherever 
I happen to be, and quite often I have to 
search for them several hours because they 
are not in their proper places.” 

“ Yes, darling, that is a very bad habit, and 
it is one which is apt to increase as a person 
grows older. A man is obliged to be very 
methodical in his business, and he dislikes to 
have his household conducted in a helter- 
skelter, Mrs. Jellyby fashion, and frequently 
he learns to hate such an uncomfortable home, 
and to seek his happiness elsewhere. But, 
dearest, you are very young, and I believe 
that you love me enough to make you struggle 
against this giant Carelessness, with his hun- 
dred arms, and bravely conquer him. Will 
you not begin to-morrow, Helen, for my 
sake?’\ 

“ I will commence to-night, dear Arthur. 

I am so glad I told you of this fault, for your 
dislike of it will give me an incentive to over-* 
come it. I think I have a brighter prospect 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


191 

for happiness than any girl I know, for I will 
have a husband who will be strong enough 
for me to lean upon morally as well as physi- 
cally.” 

“ Helen, you must not fall into the error 
that your last remark implies. God knows 
that I wish it was true, but He has given 
women equal, if not greater, moral strength 
than men, and society has thrown such safe- 
guards around the fair sex. Nine-tenths of 
the men I know who are at all religious are 
greatly influenced in such matters by theif 
wives. Do you not remember the lines: 

“ ‘ And God, who made man’s body strong, 

Made also the woman’s soul ’ ? 

“ I think that men should try very hard 
to select for their wives ladies whose faith is 
pure and steadfast, as your is, my dearest 
Helen.” 

As the autumn days grew cooler, Herbert 
began to suffer a great deal with his old com- 
plaint. The Wades and the Rosses vied with 
each other in taking care of him during the 
day while Helen was busy, but she felt that 
it was her duty to relieve them in the evening. 
She exchanged rooms with the boy, so that 
he could have a fire, and she asked Dr. Hern- 
don if he would be willing to sit there when 
he called to see her. 


192 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Certainly, Helen, I am going to try to be 
as unselfish as yourself.” 

“ It hardly seems right that you should 
give up your pleasure for me,” said Herbert 
the first evening they spent with him; “ for 
of course, as you are lovers, you would pre- 
fer to be alone. But you must not mind me, 
for I am only a little boy, and you can say 
what you please before me.” 

“ We have been engaged so long, Herbert, 
that there is very little of importance that we 
have not said to each other,” — Helen blushed 
as she spoke, — “ and we take so many walks 
and drives in the afternoon that we will have 
ample time to finish saying anything we have 
forgotten, so you must not feel that you are in 
our way.” 

“ I will try not to do so. Miss Helen. Doc- 
tor, Miss Lucy Wade has just finished telling 
me the fairy tale called ‘ The Three Wishes.’ 
Now suppose you could make three wishes, 
what would they be?” 

“ In the first place,” the Doctor said, speak- 
ing slowly, as if he were thinking aloud, “ I 
should wish for this dear little woman to 
marry me,” taking Helen’s hand in his and 
looking lovingly into her eyes. “Next, I 
should wish to be a rich man worth millions 
of dollars, and then, Herbert, I should wish 
to take you, with my wife, across the Atlantic 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


193 

Ocean, and consult with the specialists In Paris 
about your case, and have you get well.” 

“ Thank you. Doctor. And what would 
your wishes be. Miss Helen? ” 

“ The same as Dr. Herndon’s, Herbert.” 
“ I am much obliged to you. Miss Helen. 
Do you think the trip to Paris would do me 
any good. Doctor? ” 

“ It might prolong your life, Herbert.” 

“ Oh, if the fairy would only give us the 
wishes! ” the little fellow said with a sigh. 

“ Oh, If Herbert’s grandfather had only 
answered papa’s letter! ” thought Helen. 


CHAPTER XII 

A TURN OF fortune's WHEEL 

“ Fortune came smiling to my youth and woo’d it, 

And purpled greatness met my ripened years.” 

Dryden. 

I N the mean time, let us see what had be- 
come of Colonel Demoville’s letter to 
Sir Hilary Herbert in behalf of his desti- 
tute daughter and her children. 

When Helen asked her father about it, he 
did not think it necessary to tell her that he 
had carried it around in his pocket several 
weeks before he had recollected to put it in 
the mail-box. 

“ Dear me ! ” he said, one morning when he 
was searching for a lost document, “ if here 
is not that letter to Sir Hilary Herbert, and it 
might have reached its destination by this 
time if it had been mailed as soon as it was 
written. However, I will not tell Helen 
that I forgot it, for she would think that she 
had a very careless old father, and that would 
distress her for nothing, poor little girl, and 
she has enough trouble now. Besides, other 
men frequently do the same, and I do not 
suppose that a few weeks’ delay in receiving 
the letter will make any difference.” 

194 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


195 

He never found out what harm his neglect 
caused, for before the letter was read by 
Sir Hilary, the turf was growing over the 
Colonel’s grave. 

The good ship which carried that letter 
across the waves of the Atlantic Ocean 
reached its destination in due time, and the 
next post took it to Sir Hilary Herbert’s 
castle, but the person to whom it was ad- 
dressed lay tossing from side to side on a bed 
of pain. Reason had deserted her throne, 
for a very severe attack of brain fever had 
set in, and the physicians in attendance de- 
spaired of the old gentleman’s life. 

A week before this time. Sir Hilary’s grand- 
son and heir, a fine lad of sixteen, had gone 
sailing on a lake in sight of the castle. The 
act was done in direct opposition to the wish 
of his grandfather, who had strictly forbid- 
den young Hilary to go upon the water, be- 
cause, on the day of the boy’s birth, his father 
had been drowned in this same lake by the 
capsizing of a small sailing vessel. 

This prohibition had always made Hilary 
quite anxious to enjoy a sail upon the water. 
How he envied the other boys when he saw 
them bathing, swimming and sailing on the 
lake ! It seemed to him that this was the one 
pleasure worth having, and that life without 
it was not worth living. 

“ Grandfather is in his dotage, and there- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


196 

fore he is unreasonable,” was Hilary’s way 
of arguing. “ There is no sense in thinking 
that a fellow will get drowned if he ever 
goes upon the water, merely because his 
father happened to meet with that sad fate 
ever so many years ago. I do not see any 
reason in it, and the first time I get a chance, 
I am going to show the old fellow that I can 
go upon the water like other people.” 

The opportunity came not long afterwards, 
one sunny morning in April. Hilary’s tutor 
was suffering with a headache and was lying 
down, so he allowed the boy to take his cus- 
tomary walk alone. As might be supposed, 
Hilary sauntered to the shore of the lake 
which had such a wonderful fascination for 
him. There he found a small boat with sails, 
which had been left there by some boys the 
previous afternoon. 

“ This is the best chance for a sail on the 
lake that I have ever had, or in all probability 
will ever have again,” thought Hilary. “ My 
tutor is sick and out of the way; the sail-boat 
is here as if the fairies had provided it for 
me ; the sky is clear and the water is as smooth 
as glass, so there is no danger of a storm, and 
there is no one around to tell my grandfather, 
so the dearest wish of my life will be grati- 
fied.” 

As he stepped lightly into the boat, whis- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


197 

tling the liveliest air he knew, how could he 
tell that Sir Hilary was watching every move- 
ment he made? 

From his seat in the observatory of the 
castle the old gentleman could survey the en- 
tire surface of the lake with his field glass. 
He recognized his grandson from that dis- 
tance by some peculiarity in his dress, and as 
soon as he saw the boy get into the boat he 
became alarmed and sent a trusty servant to 
the shore to tell Hilary to come back to the 
land. Although the messenger ran every step 
of the way, the boat had gone too far for his 
voice to be heard when he shouted. Yet that 
did not make much difference In the result, 
for the wind was blowing in the opposite di- 
rection and carrying the little boat across the 
lake, and Hilary knew nothing whatever of 
steering. 

Sir Hilary saw his servant leap into a skiff 
and row out into the lake. Then there arose 
a sudden and violent gale of wind, and, be- 
fore his horrified eyes, Hilary’s boat gave a 
lurch and sank to the bottom of the lake. The 
boy must have been caught in the sails and 
held down, for his body did not rise until 
they fired a cannon on the shore. 

When Sir Hilary witnessed the dreadful 
calamity which befell his disobedient grand- 
son he fell from his seat In a swoon. The 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


198 

servants took him up tenderly and carried him 
to his bed, where he lay for many days as 
utterly unconscious as if he had been dead. 

Then a high fever set in, and his ravings 
began. 

“ The last of my race,” he would mutter, 
“ the last of my race ! The name of Hilary 
Herbert will die with me. My son bore it 
and he was drowned. Then my grandson 
was called for me, and the waters have seized 
him. Oh, there is a bitter, bitter curse upon 
my lineage ! ” 

Day and night he repeated these words 
without cessation or variation. The physi- 
cian who had charge of the case summoned 
the best medical skill that London and Paris 
afforded. The doctors’ countenances assumed 
very grave expressions when they saw the 
extremely critical condition of their patient. 

“ Undoubtedly, most men of eighty years 
of age would succumb to this serious attack 
of illness; but with Sir Hilary’s constitution 
of iron he may rally and live several months 
longer,” the most learned of them all ven- 
tured his opinion, when the others had de- 
cided that he would die during this attack. 

The fever raged for weeks ; then it 
left Sir Hilary pale, weak, and as emaciated 
as a living skeleton. The light of intelligence 
gleamed in his eyes, but for many days he did 
not utter one word. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


199 

His strength came gradually back to him 
after weeks of the most careful nursing, but 
the attendants dared not speak to him of busi- 
ness matters for a long time. At last he 
awoke one morning stronger than usual, and 
he told his servant to send for the young law- 
yer who attended to his affairs. 

“ Parker,” said Sir Hilary as they shook 
hands, “ I have had quite a close call, but the 
Lord has given me a short time longer to 
prepare for death; for what reason I cannot 
tell, for there is no one to come after me, and 
the estate will revert to the Crown at last, I 
am afraid,” sighing as he spoke. “ However, 
I want to get everything into as good order 
as possible before I leave this world. Will 
you get all the letters that have accumulated 
during my illness and read them to me?” 

“ Certainly, Sir Hilary.” 

There was quite a large package of them, 
and as Mr. Parker opened and read each one 
he made a memorandum of what the old gen- 
tleman wished him to answer. 

“ This one has an American stamp and 
postmark. Sir Hilary,” said Mr. Parker, as 
he ran his penknife across the upper edge of 
the last one. 

“ I have no correspondents across the wa- 
ter, Parker,” the old gentleman said testily. 
“ I had a daughter who married in opposition 
to my will and went to live in New York 


200 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


City, but I always made it a point of return- 
ing her letters unopened, and, as she has not 
written for years, I supposed that she was 
dead. What is the signature to the letter? ” 

“ Arthur F. Demoville, Sir Hilary.” 

“ I have an indistinct recollection, Parker, 
of a boy of that name who was educated at 
a college near here. I think his parents lived 
in France. Read me what he has written.” 

In a low, impressive tone Mr. Parker read 
the stirring appeal to the hard-hearted father 
in behalf of his suffering daughter and her 
innocent children. 

“ My God ! to think that my Alice is living 
still, and that she and her family are enduring 
the cruel pangs of poverty while I have more 
money than I can spend! ” cried Sir Hilary. 
“ And to think that my child should have for- 
given my harsh treatment of her sufficiently 
to call her only son for her father, ‘ Hilary 
Herbert Lee ’ 1 After all, I shall not be the 
last of the name. Why can I not send for the 
boy, make him drop the hated name of Lee, 
and leave him my property with the title? 
How long has it been since that letter was 
written, Parker?” 

“ Nearly six months. Sir Hilary.” 

“ My God! I am afraid that I shall never 
see my Alice again, for she was so ill with 
consumption when this letter was writ- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


201 


ten, and her mother died so soon after 
she was taken sick ! Parker, the chil- 
dren must be living still in poverty, and I 
intend to send and have them brought here, 
and I will try to make amends to them for 
the cruel way in which I treated my daugh- 
ter. Do you think you could find a trust- 
worthy person to go across for them and 
bring them back immediately? ” 

“ I cannot recollect any one whom I could 
recommend just now. Sir Hilary. Perhaps, in 
the course of time, I might find the right man.” 

“ Parker, how would you like to go to 
America yourself?” 

“ Sir Hilary, that has been the day-dream 
of my life.” 

“ Suppose I should pay your expenses, and 
give you a good salary for the time you spend 
in traveling, and consider that you have done 
me a great favor in going, Parker? ” 

“ I will go for you with the greatest pleas- 
ure, Sir Hilary.” 

“ You are the man of all others that I 
would select, Parker, for I have the most im- 
plicit confidence in your judgment and integ- 
rity, and you have neither wife nor child to 
leave behind and make you uneasy if you 
should be detained longer than you expect. 
How could you manage about your busi- 


202 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

“ My partner, Mr. Laws, could attend to 
that.” 

“ That is true, I had forgotten him. I am 
growing old, you see, and losing my memory. 
When can you sail for America, Parker? ” 

“ I shall be ready to-morrow. Sir Hilary.” 

“ I thank you, my good friend, for being 
so very prompt. I am anxious to give my 
blessing to my grandson ‘ before I go hence 
and am forgotten ’ ; and something within 
warns me that my new lease on life will be a 
short one, and haste is needful in such a des- 
perate case as mine. Would you not advise 
me to have my will written in favor of my 
grandson before you leave, Parker? ” 

“ It would certainly be advisable. Sir 
Hilary.” 

“ Then you and your partner had better 
make two copies of the will to-day, bequeath- 
ing all my worldly possessions to my young 
grandson, Hilary Herbert Lee, on condition 
that he shall take my name and title. Bring 
both of them for me to sign early to-morrow 
morning, for I shall feel stronger then, and 
there will still be time for you to catch the 
train for Liverpool. Have the will duly re- 
corded, and take the copy to the boy. Make 
out any credentials you think necessary and I 
will attach my signature to them. Carry De- 
moville’s letter with you, and draw on my 
London bankers for all the funds you need.” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


203 

The amount of salary Mr. Parker was to 
receive for his services was settled between 
them, and then he went to his office and car- 
ried out Sir Hilary’s instructions. The next 
morning the old gentleman signed the wills 
with a weak, trembling hand in the presence 
of three witnesses. 

“ Good-by, Parker,” he said in a tremu- 
lous voice; “ I am afraid that I shall never 
see you again, for I feel worse to-day. You 
have always attended faithfully to my busi- 
ness, and it is a comfort to me to know that 
my last wishes will be carried out to the 
letter.” 

“ Good-by, Sir Hilary. I hope, if it should 
be God’s will, that we may meet again.” 

They shook hands, and Mr. Parker left 
for Liverpool, which he reached just in time 
to engage passage on a steamship which was 
bound for the port in which the Lees lived, to 
get a cargo of cotton. 

Howard Parker enjoyed the voyage from 
the moment of embarkation to that of land- 
ing. He was young and full of life and 
spirits, and he had not taken a holiday for 
several years. He appreciated the oppor- 
tunity which Fortune had so unexpectedly of- 
fered him for seeing something of the world 
outside of Queen Victoria’s dominion. There 
was much warmth and cordiality in his man- 
ners, which rendered him very fascinating to 


204 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


all classes of society; consequently he made 
friends with every one on board of the vessel, 
from the Captain down to a smutty little boot- 
black who was going to “ Hamerica ” to try 
his fortune. The sailors vied with each other 
in explaining all the different parts of the 
ship to the handsome young gentleman who 
spoke so kindly to them. 

As to the passengers, they were unani- 
mously of the opinion that there was no one 
in the world like Mr. Parker. His conversa- 
tion was witty and agreeable; he was the life 
of every game that was started; he was ex- 
tremely polite and attentive to the elderly 
persons, and very amusing and entertaining 
to the children; and if any one happened to 
be in trouble or distress, he was invariably on 
hand to help and relieve him to the extent of 
his ability. In fact, they did not see how 
they could have gotten along without his 
presence. 

Captain Travis shook hands with him 
warmly when they parted. 

“ Mr. Parker, I never carried a passenger 
on my ship whom I liked better than your- 
self,” he said. “ You must be sure to return 
with me. Next year I am going to quit this 
company and buy a vessel of my own, and 
then, my dear fellow,” clapping him on the 
shoulder, “ I will take you around the world 
with me, and it shall not cost you a cent ; and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


205 

I will take your bride, too, if you are sensible 
enough to marry by that time.” 

“ I cannot find a lady who will accept me. 
Captain,” said Mr. Parker, laughing and 
blushing. 

“ That is nonsense in a handsome young 
man like you ! Why, have I not observed 
how popular you were with the girls on board 
the ship? You can save that fib to tell to the 
marines.” 

“ I took you for one of the marines,” said 
the young man, smiling. 

“ Well, I declare, Parker, you have got the 
best of me again ! but you just wait, partner, 
until the return trip and see if I do not get 
even with you.” 

“Which is the best hotel here. Captain 
Travis?” 

“ I like the St. James the best.” 

“ Very well, I will go there then. You must 
let me know when you will be ready to sail 
again. Good morning, sir.” 

As soon as he had registered his name, Mr. 
Parker asked the clerk if he knew a gentle- 
man named Demoville who was in the cotton 
business in that city. 

“ Do you mean Colonel A. F. Demoville, 
sir? I knew him, but he has been dead for 
several months.” 

“ Is it possible? I came over from Eng- 
land to transact some business with him. If 


206 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


his ojffice is still open, I might find some one 
there who could give me the information I 
desire.” 

“ The office is now occupied by a new firm,” 
said the clerk. “ You see, sir, the Colonel’s 
bookkeeper stole a lot of his money and ran 
away with it, and it ruined the old gentleman 
financially, and broke his heart and crushed 
the life out of him, and he just gave up and 
died.” 

“ That is very sad indeed. Did he leave 
a family? ” 

“ Only one daughter, sir, as pretty a young 
lady as your eyes ever beheld.” 

“ Can you tell me where she is at present? ” 
Mr. Parker asked eagerly; then seeing a 
rather queer smile on the clerk’s countenance 
he added, “ I am not so much interested in 
her beauty — although, naturally, I like to look 
at a lovely face — as I am in finding out 
whether she can give me the address of a 
family by the name of Lee of whom I am in 
search.” 

“ Well, sir, I am afraid that I cannot tell 
you where Miss Demoville is just now. Last 
winter she was quite a belle among our young 
men, and I recollect that she was to have 
taken the principal part in the opera of ‘ Mar- 
tha,’ which was performed at our theater 
for the benefit of this same Lee family of 
whom you speak, and I attended the affair; 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


207 

but at the conclusion of the first act Miss De- 
moville was summoned to the bedside of Mrs. 
Lee, who was dying, and her friend. Miss 
Laura Houston, acted as her substitute for 
the entertainment.” 

“ So the mother is dead,” thought Mr. 
Parker. “ Can you tell me, sir, where I can 
find Miss Houston? ” he said, aloud. 

“ I cannot, sir. The family went to the 
Springs in the summer, and I have not heard 
of their return to the city.” 

“ Well, sir, can you not think of some 
other friend of the Demoville or of the Lee 
family? Sir Hilary Herbert, who is the 
grandfather of these young Lees, is quite 
anxious to have them come over to England 
and visit him before he dies, and his life 
hangs by a slender thread, and he has made 
his will in favor of his grandson, and will 
leave him an immense estate.” 

“ Is it possible? It seems to me that I saw 
the announcement of the death of Miss Lee 
in one of our papers during the summer, and 
some one remarked that there was only a little 
lame boy left of the family, and that he might 
have to go to the poorhouse, as he objected to 
the orphan asylum, and Miss Demoville had 
no means left with which to take care even of 
herself. Speaking of the poorhouse reminds 
me of a gentleman who might be able to help 
you in finding this Lee boy, for I recollect 


208 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


that it was he who came to take Miss Demo- 
ville to Mrs. Lee’s death-bed the night of the 
opera, and they said he was the physician 
who attended the Lee family. His name is 
Herndon, and he holds the office of County 
Physician and has charge of the poorhouse. 
If the boy is there he can take you right to 
him, or at any rate he can tell you where to 
find him. I will get my hat and show you the 
way to his office now, as I am not busy.” 

“Is Dr. Herndon in?” he asked of the 
colored boy who sat in the door of the office. 

“ Naw, suh, he done gone ter de po’house, 
an’ he don’t neber come back ’ere tell pitch 
dark,” he replied, showing his ivories. 

“ Well, Mr. Parker, as you seem to be in 
a hurry about this matter, your best plan 
would be to eat your dinner and then take a 
carriage and go out to our County Asylum.” 

“ Thank you for your kindness, sir,” re- 
plied Mr. Parker. 

As he rode along the beautiful wide avenue 
shaded on either side by large oaks, Mr. Par- 
ker admired the home-like appearance of the 
houses surrounded by fine lawns of orchard 
grass, dotted with clusters of bright autumn 
flowers, geraniums, dahlias, roses and zin- 
nias; but what attracted his attention most 
were the orange trees with their golden fruit 
gleaming among the glossy green leaves. 
There were also tall banana plants with their 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


209 

huge foliage, and Spanish bayonets, date 
palms, century aloes and other natives of the 
sub-tropics. 

The scenery was so picturesque and the ride 
was so pleasant that Mr. Parker felt sorry 
when the driver stopped at the gate of a large 
farm and announced: 

“ This is our County Asylum, sir. Would 
you mind walking up to the house while I 
rest my horses a bit out here? ” 

“ Of course not,” Mr. Parker said with 
alacrity. “ I get tired of sitting so long, es- 
pecially as I have just taken a long sea voy- 
age.” 

In front of the main house and the cabins 
was a pretty lawn and flowers, but the ground 
between them and the gate, some ten or 
twelve acres in area, was laid off in long rows 
of sweet potatoes, with a view to utility 
rather than beauty. An old woman who wore 
a pink sunbonnet was stooping over the vines. 
She stared at Mr. Parker as he took off his 
hat and said : 

“ Good morning, madam. Can you tell 
me whether a boy named Hilary Herbert 
Lee is living here? ” 

“ No, sir; ther’ ain’t nair sich er feller here, 
though ther’ like to ’a’ be’n. I ’lowed ter 
bring ’im ’long er me w’en I come ’ere, but 
Miss ’Moville, she wouldn’t ’gree ter hit, 
though I hed be’n er keepin’ charge er the 


210 


'ALMOST AN ANGEL 


chile ever sence ’is mar died. She ’lowed she 
wus er gwine ter tek keer er ’im, but the Lord 
knows how she’s er gwine ter do hit, ’ca’se ’er 
par’s dead an’ ’e never lef’ ’er a nickel. My 
name’s Eleanor loly Peniny Piminty Burns, 
an’ ef yer want ter see Miss ’Moville an’ 
Herbert Lee I kin jis’ git in the kerridge with 
yer an’ ride back ther’ an’ show yer wher’ 
they live. Pm sich er po’ han’ ter rikillic 
names er streets.” 

“ Excuse me, madam,” Mr. Parker’s na- 
tive politeness made it difficult for him to re- 
fuse the offer, “ but I see a gentleman driving 
toward us; can you tell me whether it is the 
physician in charge of the asylum?” 

“ Yes, hit’s Dr. Hairndon.” 

Mr. Parker went up to the side of the 
buggy. 

“ Dr. Herndon, I believe. My name is Par- 
ker,” handing his card to the Doctor. “ I am 
an English barrister, and I have come over 
the water in search of a family of Lees, whom 
I have been told you attended.” 

“ I am glad to meet you, Mr. Parker.” 
Dr. Herndon shook hands cordially with him. 
“ Yes, I attended the family; but the mother 
and the daughter have been dead several 
months, and there is only the little boy, Her- 
bert, left.” 

“ Sir Hilary Herbert, this boy’s grand- 
father, employed me to come to this city and 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


211 


take Herbert Lee to England to enter into 
possession of a very large estate.” 

“ Is it possible? I am delighted to hear 
of the little fellow’s good fortune,” looking 
at the letter and credentials Mr. Parker 
handed him. “ I think it best that I should 
break the news to him to-night. His health 
is so bad that the unexpected tidings might 
give him a shock. If you will call at my of- 
fice to-morrow morning at ten o’clock, Mr. 
Parker,’] giving him a card, “ it will give me 
pleasure to take you to see the boy.” 

“ Thank you. Dr. Herndon, I will accept 
your kind offer. Good afternoon, sir.” 


CHAPTER XIII 

WEDDING BELLS 

“ Marriage, rightly understood, 

Gives to the tender and the good 
A Paradise below.” 

Nathaniel Cotton 

W HEN Dr. Herndon went that night 
to tell Herbert of the good fortune 
that had happened to him, the door 
of his room was open, and as the 
Doctor hung his hat upon the rack in the 
hall, he heard the boy’s voice saying: 

“ Yes, Miss Helen, the pain is very great, 
sometimes, but I try to think that it is the 
cross of Christ that I am bearing, like Simon 
the Cyrenian, and then, somehow, it grows 
easier, as if our Saviour came and took part 
of the burden on His own shoulders.” 

Dr. Herndon listened with his head bowed 
in reverence to these words of calm and holy 
resignation, then he said : 

“ May I come in, my dear little martyr, 
and bring you some very glad tidings? ” 

“ Yes, Doctor, you are always welcome,” 
shaking hands with him. “ But what is the 
good news ? I did not think there would ever 


212 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


213 

be any more for me until the angels came to 
take me to heaven and my mother and my 
sister.” 

“ But this is of an earthly nature,” said 
the Doctor, as he shook hands with Helen 
and took a seat. “ Do you recollect our three 
wishes the other night? I think our fairy 
godmother must have heard them, for the 
second one is coming true, only the lucky 
person is you, Herbert.” 

“ Am I to have a fortune? I, a poor little 
lame boy rescued from the poorhouse by the 
charity of Miss Helen and yourself? Dr. 
Herndon, you must be joking ! ” Herbert sat 
up in bed, his eyes gleaming like stars. 

“ Herbert, I was never more in earnest in 
my life. You knew that Colonel Demoville 
had written a letter to your grandfather in 
England asking his assistance for your mother 
and her children, did you not? ” 

“ Yes, Doctor, but Miss Helen said that he 
did not reply.” 

“ Herbert, I met a gentleman to-day who 
said that he had been sent across the ocean by 
Sir Hilary Herbert to take you to him, and 
when your grandfather dies, you will inherit 
all his vast wealth.” 

“ Oh, mother, if you could have lived until 
this hour to receive your father’s pardon and 
blessing!” cried Herbert. “But you have 
greater joys than this in heaven. Oh, Doc- 


214 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


tor, it makes me feel so sad when I think of 
leaving you and Miss Helen and my kind 
friends in America. Must it be so? ” 

“ My dear Herbert, it is so greatly to your 
interest that I should advise you to go. Think 
of the advantages you would derive from it, 
and how your life might be prolonged by con- 
sulting those eminent physicians in London 
and Paris.” 

“ Life is very sweet. Doctor, but I could 
not go away with an entire stranger. Could 
you not go away with me? ” 

“ Could I, Helen? How could I leave you, 
darling? ” he whispered. 

“ It would be very hard for us to part, but 
I think it is our duty to do what we can for 
this unfortunate child. You could come back 
in the spring ” 

“ And marry you, darling,” finished the 
Doctor. “ I would do that at all hazards, 
you may be sure.” 

“ I should not want to be so selfish as to 
separate you lovers,” said Herbert. “ Why 
could you not marry Miss Helen, Doctor, and 
take her along with us?” 

“Why not, Helen?” Dr. Herndon’s de- 
light at the boy’s bright idea was apparent. 

“ There is no reason, except that I am 
afraid that I could not get my trousseau ready 
in time.” 

“ Oh, you would need so little for the voy- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 215 

age, and you could get the rest so much better 
in Paris,” urged the Doctor. 

“ You are right, as usual, Arthur, but we 
must not form any plans until we consult this 
English gentleman. What is his name, and 
when shall we see him? ” 

“ His name is Parker, and he will call at 
my office to-morrow morning at ten. I am 
going to bring him out in my buggy then to 
see you, Herbert, and we can talk it all over 
then.” 

“ Well, Doctor, you can tell him for me 
that I will not go a foot with him unless you 
and Miss Helen go, too, and he can send a 
dispatch to my grandfather, and bring the 
answer with him when he comes, for that will 
save time.” 

“ If that is your decision, Herbert, I had 
better say good-night and go and tell the gen- 
tleman so that he can make his arrangements 
about sending the dispatch by cable.” 

In after years Dr. Herndon always spoke 
of himself as being, like Mahomet’s coffin, 
"suspended between earth and heaven while he 
was waiting for Mr. Parker to receive his 
reply. At length he came into the Doctor’s 
office with a yellow envelope in his hand, and 
his face wore a grave expression. 

“ I have sad news from England,” he said. 
“ Sir Hilary Herbert died yesterday.” 

“ Then the boy will never see his grand- 


2i6 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


father. What effect will this have on his 
prospects?” asked Dr. Herndon. 

“ He will come into possession of an im- 
mense estate as soon as he arrives in England 
and has his name changed. You can read this 
copy of the will.” 

“ That is an immense amount of property 
for a boy to hold in his own right,” said the 
Doctor, when he had finished the perusal. 

“ Yes, from this moment he can have every 
earthly wish gratified.” 

“ Including the one he has expressed, of 
having myself and bride accompany him to 
his new home? ” 

“ Certainly; and you can live there with 
him always if you will. You could get a fine 
practice around the castle, if you should like.” 

“ I should, indeed, Mr. Parker. No man 
likes to give up his independence, and of 
course you understand that I am making some 
sacrifices in leaving my home and country.” 

“ I do, indeed. Dr. Herndon, and the boy 
should appreciate your unselfishness.” 

“ He is very grateful, Mr. Parker, for 
everything we do for him. But I have a 
mother and a sister dependent upon me, and 
I should have to take them, also, with me.” 

“There is room at the castle for all, sir; 
and as to means, they are almost unlimited.” 

“ Of course, Mr. Parker, I should only 
want a loan of enough money to pay our way 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


217 

over, and to keep us from actual want until 
I get some patients around the castle.” 

“ Dr. Herndon, you are entirely too un- 
selfish and noble for this wicked world of 
ours,” replied Mr. Parker. “ Of course, I like 
you all the better for being so, but, as you are 
going entirely for the benefit of the boy, and 
he has more money than he can possibly use 
upon himself, I insist upon his paying your 
expenses for several years to come without 
any return. If he is the right sort of a fellow 
he will be sure to do it.” 

“ Oh, he has an excellent disposition. Come 
with me and see for yourself. I wish to in- 
troduce you to my affianced wife. Miss De- 
moville.” 

“ So this is the future Sir Hilary Herbert. 
My dear boy, I am glad to meet you,” said 
Mr. Parker as he shook hands cordially with 
the lad. 

“ I am Herbert Lee, sir. Why do you not 
call me by my real name, Mr. Parker? ” 

“ Because I have just received the sad in- 
telligence of the death of your grandfather, 
who was a life-long friend of mine, and you 
are to inherit his name and his title, as well as 
his large fortune, in accordance with his will, 
which I shall now proceed to read.” 

“ It seems like a dream,” said Herbert, 
rubbing his eyes when Mr. Parker had fin- 
ished. “ Are you sure that I am not asleep? ” 


2i8 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ I am certainly a flesh and blood man ; feel 
my arm and see; it is pretty solid, is it not? 
Well, you know they do not have men like 
that in dreams.” 

“ Will you let me take Miss Helen and 
the Doctor, Mr. Parker? For I tell you 
now, sir, I will stay in America if they cannot 

go-” 

“ Yes, Dr. Herndon and I have arranged 
all that, and he wishes his mother and his sis- 
ter to accompany him.” 

“Hurrah for that!” cried Herbert, clap- 
ping his hands. “ ‘ So we will all live happily 
ever afterwards,’ as the fairy tales say.” 

“ This little lady pleads for time to make 
her arrangements for traveling,” said the 
Doctor, who had been conversing in the hall 
with Helen. “ Now that Sir Hilary is dead, 
is there any necessity for our leaving so soon, 
Mr. Parker?” 

“ We can take our time. Doctor. I should 
prefer seeing some of the beauties of this 
continent before I return to England — Ni- 
agara Falls, the Natural Bridge and the 
Mammoth Cave, for instance. How long a 
holiday can you give me for the purpose. 
Miss Demoville?” 

“ I think that you could spend three weeks 
pleasantly in travel, Mr. Parker, and my 
preparations could be made in that time. You 
must be sure to return for our wedding, which 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


219 > 

will take place on the twenty-fifth. It will be 
a very quiet little affair at home,” with a 
glance at her heavy mourning dress; “ but, as 
we are to be friends and neighbors in Eng- 
land, I am especially desirous of your pres- 
ence.” 

“ Yes, Mr. Parker, you must be sure to 
attend. Will you have any bridesmaids, 
Helen?” 

“ I thought I would invite your sister Leila 
and my friend Laura Houston, Doctor.” 

“ Mr. Parker, will you officiate as my best 
man : 

“ Thank you. Doctor. I appreciate the 
honor of your invitation, and it will give me 
great pleasure to accept. I wish to remain in 
your beautiful city for a few days before we 
sail, and visit all the places of interest, so I 
will return a few days before the wedding. 

I should like to be introduced to your sister, 
the young lady with whom, I suppose, I am 
to wait.” 

There was a great deal to be done during 
the next few weeks, but with the assistance 
of several dressmakers and the Wades and 
Rosses everything was completed before the 
time appointed, and Helen had an oppor- 
tunity to call on a few of her most intimate 
friends, and invite them to attend her wed- 
ding. 

Mammy was greatly distressed when she 


2 20 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

heard that Helen was going to live in Eng- 
land. 

“ Is yer gwine away, honey, an’ leab yer 
po’ ol’ Mammy all erlone by ’erse’f in dis 
great big Nunited States? No, yer ain’ 
gwine do nuffin’ er de kin’, ’ca’se Mammy 
gwine ’long wid yer.” 

“ Mammy, would you be willing to leave 
all your people and go away across the ocean 
and live and die there? ” 

“ Ain’ got no people, honey; nobody ’t all 
but you. I kin dror my money out de bank, 
an’ pay my way, an’ I won’t lose not’in’ ’t all 
’cep’in’ w’at I paid de S’iety, an’ dat kin go 
ter bury some po’ nigger w’at ain’ got no kin 
ner w’ite folks. ’Erbe’t, don’t you want 
Mammy ter go ’long an’ tek keer er yer? 
’Ca’se I tells yer, chile, de Doctor an’ Miss 
Helen ain’ gwine hab no eyes fer nobody 
’cep’in’ demselves, a’ter Dr. Mark’un tie dat 
knot. Mammy know! He, he! ” 

“ Yes, Mammy, I would like to have you 
first-rate, if Mr. Parker is willing.” 

“ Yo’ ’ead is chock full er sense, honey, 
’ca’se yer ain’ no po’ w’ite trash. Mammy 
said so fus’ time she eber seed yer. I gwine 
ask dat Englishman ter let me go, jes’ de fus’ 
time I lay mer eyes on ’im.” 

It happened that she was the first one to 
see him when he got out of the carriage, 
when he returned from his American tour. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


221 


Mammy darted forward like a deer, fell 
down before Mr. Parker, and clasped him 
around the knees. 

“ I wants ter go wid dese people de wo’st in 
de worl’. Please, Marse Englishmun, say 
yais an’ le’ me go.” 

“ I have no objections if they want you to 
go,” said Mr. Parker, slightly embarrassed 
at her importunity. 

“ T’ank ’e, mas’er; you sholy is er Chris- 
tian gent’mun. Glory, glory, glory halle- 
lujah ! ” She leaped into the air, and clapped 
her hands and shouted until she disappeared 
around the side of the house. 

That evening the wedding took place, and 
every guest present thought it was the pret- 
tiest little affair they had ever witnessed. The 
bride looked exquisitely lovely in her dress 
of white silk, the same she had worn in 
“ Martha,” with her veil of white illusion 
and wreath of orange flowers, and Mrs. Lee’s 
diamond cross flashing on her bosom, a wed- 
ding present from Herbert. She and the 
Doctor stood under a marriage bell of flow- 
ers suspended from the chandelier, and on 
either side were the attendants, Laura Hous- 
ton and Mr. Wallace, and Leila Herndon 
and Mr. Parker, both of the girls looking 
very charming in their costumes of white silk 
mull. 

The ceremony was followed by the con- 


222 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


gratulations of their friends, and then the 
company partook of cake and wine. The 
bride disappeared for a short time, and when 
they saw her again she had donned a neat 
traveling suit to wear on a little bridal tour 
which the Doctor had planned, as the vessel 
would not be ready to sail for several days. 

When the couple had said good-by to their 
friends and had driven off toward the depot. 
Mammy ran after them and threw an old 
shoe “ fer luck,” which fell on the top of the 
carriage and created much merriment. 

They reached New Orleans in a few hours, 
and spent several days in sightseeing in this 
“ Paris of America.” Helen was charmed 
with the old French market with its pictur- 
esque arrangement of edibles and wares of all 
sorts and its Babel of tongues. 

They returned just in time to sail for Eng- 
land. Miss Lucy Wade and Miss Nettie Ross 
came down to the vessel to say farewell, and 
they parted in tears. 

“ We shall meet again, I am sure,” sobbed 
Helen. “ It would break my heart if I 
thought that I should never see the friends 
who have been so kind to me in my distress. 
As soon as the Doctor gets a good practice I 
am going to send you both tickets to come 
over and pay me a long visit.” 

Then they steamed out of the harbor, wav- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


223 

ing their handkerchiefs to their friends on 
shore. 

From the beginning to the end the trip was 
a most delightful one. The weather was just 
right, neither too warm nor too cold, the pas- 
sengers were polite and congenial, and the 
captain saw that they had every comfort. 

Herbert’s handsome appearance and his 
misfortune made him attract much attention, 
and every one with whom he was thrown 
seemed glad to entertain him as long as he 
would stay with them. The bracing sea 
breeze seemed to revive him wonderfully, and 
he went all over the ship on his crutches, and 
made friends with the sailors, who told him 
every yarn they could recollect. 

Naturally, the Doctor and his bride were 
always' together and generally alone. 

“ I hope you will not think that we are 
very- selfish because we do not indulge more 
in your very agreeable society,” Dr. Herndon 
said apologetically; “but this is our honey- 
moon, and when I begin my practice in Eng- 
land I may have very little time to spend at 
home.” 

Mammy found occupation in taking care 
of Mrs. Herndon, who suffered from seasick- 
ness. 

“ Honey,” she would say to Leila, “ let 
Mammy set ’ere an’ nuss yo’ mar. Dat leetle 


224 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


’Erbe’t done got so fat an’ sassy tell ’e won’t 
let Mammy do nuffin’ ’t all fer ’im, an’ de 
ol’ ’oman hates ter jes’ set an’ hoi’ ’er ban’s, 
’ca’se mer ol’ mist’ess w’ut’s dead an’ gone 
allers use’ ter say dat idleness was de ol’ Deb- 
il’s wo’kshop. You jes’ go ’long, chile, an’ 
’joy de good breeze an’ talk ter dat young 
Marse Inglishmun. He look so lonesome 
settin’ dar by hisse’f. He settin’ dar hol’in’ 
de newspaper ’fore he face, but Mammy kin 
see he ain’ readin’, ’ca’se one eye strayin’ ober 
dis yer way all de time. He cyarn’t fool dis 
chil’. He, he!” 

With the keen intuition of her race. 
Mammy had discovered Mr. Parker’s secret. 
He had fallen in love with the beautiful Miss 
Herndon as they were being introduced, and 
he considered every moment spent in her pres- 
ence as a golden holiday. There was an air of 
modest reserve about her, the consequence of 
her having mingled so little in society, which 
enhanced her charms in the eyes of Queen 
Victoria’s subject, yet it made him tremble for 
his fate, for she never gave him a word or a 
sign that he could construe into encourage- 
ment. 

“ She has less of the flirt about her than 
any lady I ever met,” he thought, “ and yet 
her very coldness renders her more attractive 
to me. I fear I am growing cowardly, for al- 
though we are alone for hours at a time, yet 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


225 

I can never gather courage to tell her I love 
her.” 

One moonlight night, when they were 
seated on deck together and there was no one 
in sight, Mr. Parker took Leila’s hand in his 
own, and told her of his love. 

“ You love me? ” cried the young lady in 
astonishment. “Why, I never dreamed of 
such a thing! I thought you were merely 
polite to me because we were the only young 
people on board.” 

“ But can you not try to love me in re- 
turn? ” 

“ I might. Already I admire your char- 
acter very much, and I know that my brother 
and his wife esteem you very highly.” 

“ When can you give me an answer? ” 

“ In a week, perhaps. Such matters require 
reflection-.” 

“ Oh, a week is too long! I should be in 
torture all that time for fear you were going 
to reject me. Think over it well to-night, 
look into your heart, and see if you find my 
image there is dearer to you than all the 
world beside, as yours is to me, dear Leila, 
and let me know your decision at breakfast 
to-morrow.” 

“ But how can I, before all those people? ” 

“If we were on land I should ask you to 
wear a white rose in token of acceptance; but 
as that is impossible, if I see this ring on 


226 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


your hand,” slipping one from his own fin- 
ger, “ it will make me the happiest man on 
earth.” 

With such a momentous question to decide, 
Leila slept little that night, and she awoke 
from a dream of her lover early the next 
morning. 

“ I believe that I have loved Mr. Parker 
from the moment we met,” she thought; “ but 
of course I could not acknowledge it even to 
myself until he had made a declaration. Dear 
little ring, how I love you ! I will wear you 
now and until the last moment of my exist- 
ence.” 

Mr. Parker’s face beamed with happiness 
as he saw his solitaire glittering on the fair 
hand across the breakfast table. 

“ Will you join me in a promenade on deck. 
Miss Leila?” he asked when the meal was 
concluded. 

“ In half an hour, Mr. Parker,” she replied 
with a most becoming blush. 

“ Old fellow, I congratulate you,” whis- 
pered a voice in his ear as he felt a slap on 
his shoulder. 

“Captain Travis, what do you mean?” 

“ Don’t be startled, but I understood the 
meaning of your ring changing hands. Of 
course it was unintentional, but I went into 
my berth near which you were sitting last 
night just in time to hear the last sentence of 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


227 

your conversation with Miss Herndon, so I 
cannot help understanding the situation, and 
I spoke of It In order to offer you the use of 
my private parlor,” he unlocked the door as 
he spoke, “ where you two can make all your 
arrangements for an early wedding without 
being overheard, as you were last night. ‘ All 
the world loves a lover,’ and I was one rnyself 
when I was a young man.” 

“ I appreciate your kindness so highly. Cap- 
tain Travis,” shaking his hand warmly. “ This 
will expedite matters so much.” 

“ I am afraid from the way you look now 
that you will not wait for my ship to take 
you all over the world on your wedding 
tour.” 

“ You are very right. Captain. I am going 
to try to 'persuade Miss Herndon to marry 
me In Paris, as It will be better for us to go 
there Immediately for the purpose of consult- 
ing the physicians about Herbert Lee’s case; 
and. If I am not mistaken In the young lady’s 
disposition, I shall succeed.” 

Mr. Parker was right, for It was an easy 
matter to get Leila and her mother and her 
brother to consent. 

“ I liked you from the first, Parker,” said 
the Doctor, “ and there Is no man to whom I 
would rather have my sister married.” 

They spent a very delightful month In 
Paris, during which time Mr. Parker and 


2 28 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

Leila were quietly married in a pretty little 
church. 

Herbert underwent a painful but very suc- 
cessful operation while there, and the physi- 
cians who attended him prescribed a course of 
treatment which might prolong his life five 
years. 

“No longer?” asked Dr. Herndon. 

“ Nevair,” said Dr. Maupres, shaking his 
head. “ Ze blood poi-son weel set in theen 
and keel ’im.” 

“ Let us make those years as happy for the 
little fellow as possible, Helen,” Dr. Hern- 
don said to his wife. 

“ I will endeavor to do so, Arthur. Dear 
child, I will carry a pain in my heart when- 
ever I think that we will have to give him up 
so soon, for I love him dearly for his own 
sake, and because he was the indirect means 
of bringing us together, Arthur.” 

“ Yes, Helen, it was your conduct toward 
the Lee family which revealed to me your 
nobility of character and made me desire to 
marry you; and I assure you that I have not 
been disappointed in you, my precious little 
wife.” 


CHAPTER XIV 

IN PEACE BENEATH THE PEACEFUL SKIES 

“ Thrice happy world, where gilded toys 

No more disturb our thoughts, no more pollute our 
joys ! 

There light and shade no more succeed by turns, 

There reigns the eternal with unclouded ray; 

There all is calm as night, yet all immortal day. 

And truth forever shines, and love forever burns.” 

Isaac Watts. 

T ime flies so rapidly when one is 
happy,” said Dr. Herndon. “ Can 
you realize, dear wife, that we have 
been married five years, to-day? ” 

“ I should find it much harder, dearest, if 
we did not have these precious landmarks,” 
replied Helen, patting the curly heads of their 
robust little sons, Arthur, aged four, and 
Herbert, two years younger. “ But it has 
been the most delightful period of my life. 
With the exception of your dear mother’s 
death, Arthur, there has been absolutely noth- 
ing to mar our happiness.” 

“ Yes, Helen, we have been singularly 
blessed, and I feel very grateful to our Heav- 
enly Father for His goodness toward us.” 

229 


230 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


“ Do you know, dearest, that your becom- 
ing so religious has increased my happiness 
more than anything else? ” 

“ Thank you, little wife. Fully half the 
credit of that belongs to you. A good woman 
has so much influence with a man, when he 
loves her with his whole heart. I have often 
wondered, Helen, that you were not afraid to 
trust your fate in the hands of one who 
thought so little of religion as I did before 
we were married.” 

“ ‘Love hopeth all things,’ Arthur; and I 
remembered you always in my prayers, from 
the time when I became conscious of my de- 
votion to you.” 

“ Helen, our first-born son shows already 
such great earnestness in saying his little 
prayers. Let us dedicate him to the serv- 
ice of God.” 

“ Arthur, that has been the dearest wish of 
my life ever since his birth, but I dared not 
mention it to you, fearing that you might not 
approve.” 

“ I hope that the good Lord will accept 
our offering as an atonement for my neglect 
of Him in my youth. Now, dear wife, can 
you guess what I have selected for your an- 
niversary present? ” 

“ Let me see, Arthur, you have given me 
everything possible in silver and jewelry for 
my wedding, birthday and Christmas pres- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


231 

ents. The fifth anniversary is for wood; per- 
haps it is a rocking-chair.” 

“ No, Helen,” said the Doctor, laughing, 
“ it is not of wood, although it, or rather they, 
came over from America in a wooden vessel. 
I will tell you, my dear wife. I have noticed, 
since my mother died and Leila and Mr. Par- 
ker moved to London with their little girls, 
that you have been too much alone while I 
was attending to my practice, although our 
children were very bright and lively, and 
Mammy gave you all the help she could in 
nursing Herbert Lee,” — they called him by 
his old name because he did not wish them to 
use his title, and they had to distinguish the 
two Herberts, — “ and so, my darling, I sent 
for two of your friends to come over from 
America and stay with you as long as they 
would.” 

“ Dear Arthur, you could not have pleased 
me better. I know without asking you that 
these friends are Miss Lucy Wade and Miss 
Nettie Ross.” 

“ Yes, Helen. It would have been a pity 
to ask one without the other, as they have 
been inseparable companions so long. I wrote 
and asked Dr. Markham to deliver the invi- 
tation in your name and mine, and he replied 
saying that they accepted it without a mo- 
ment’s hesitation. In fact, he said that it 
seemed as if our asking the ladies had been 


232 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

instigated by Providence, as it must have 
been, I think, for all the other members of 
the two families died since we left there, and 
these ladies had sold their dear old home, 
where we were married, to pay the bills of the 
doctors, druggists, and undertakers, and they 
were having a hard struggle to make a bare 
living with their needles, for their eyesight is 
beginning to fail. The Doctor kindly made 
all the arrangements for their sailing, and 
they came across the Atlantic in Captain 
Travis’s vessel. They landed in Liverpool 
yesterday, and I sent the carriage to the de- 
pot for them this morning. They ought to 
be here by this time. Yes,” looking out of 
the window, “ here they come now.” 

The ladies waved their handkerchiefs from 
the carriage windows, and Helen and the 
Doctor hastened to meet them and give them 
the heartiest of welcomes. 

Mammy, hearing the commotion, ran out 
to see what was the matter. She clasped the 
guests around the knees and shouted with 
delight. 

“ Now all us ’Merikins done got tergedder 
once mo’, I don’ keer w’en Gab’iel blow he 
trumpet! ” 

“ Let me take you into Herbert’s room,” 
said Helen. “ My dear boy, do you remem- 
ber these ladies? ” 

His face lighted up joyfully. 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


233 

“ Oh, yes, they are Miss Lucy and Miss 
Nettie I ” grasping their hands cordially. “ I 
am ever so glad you came. How did you 
leave the others? ” 

“ They have all gone home to God, Her- 
bert.” Miss Lucy wiped away her tears. 

“ That is where I am going soon. Miss 
Lucy, but the thought of it does not make me 
sad. Oh, no, I rejoice when I think of meet- 
ing my mother and father and my sister, and 
all the others who have gone before, and 
Jesus and all the angels ! Life would be very 
sweet to me if I could ever hope to be well ; but 
as it is, I bear a very heavy cross here, and up 
there I shall wear a bright crown. I am so 
glad you got here before the angels came for 
me. You were so good to me when I was a 
little boy at your house, and I know you will 
read to me now, and sing to me, and pray for 
me that I may not be afraid to pass through 
the dark valley of the shadow of death. I 
love that twenty-third psalm so much. I 
used to say it every night after my evening 
prayer, as I knelt down beside my sick 
mother’s bed. You must not think that the 
thought of going makes me sad. Why, it is 
perfectly glorious even to think of the joys 
of heaven; and oh, what must it be to be 
there 1 ” 

His countenance shone with an expression 
of happiness that made it seem almost angelic. 


234 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

During the weeks which followed one of 
the three ladies was with the boy all the time 
he was not asleep, and they read him all the 
beautiful descriptions of heaven from the 
Bible and sang the sweetest hymns they knew 
to him. 

Sometimes Helen could not restrain the 
tears when she saw Herbert growing paler 
and weaker and thinner every day. 

“ Don’t cry, Miss Helen,” Herbert would 
say, taking her hands down from her face and 
kissing her. “ It makes my going so much 
harder to see your distress.” 

“ But you have grown so dear to me, Her- 
bert. I love you almost as much as I do my 
own children, and it seems so hard that we 
should be parted.” 

“ It does. Miss Helen, for I love you and 
the Doctor so dearly. You shared your scant 
means with me when you were poor, and you 
kept me from being just a common pauper; 
besides all that you did for my mother; and 
I can never express my gratitude for what you 
have done. When I am gone I want you to 
live in this beautiful castle always, and have 
it for your own; and I wish you would keep 
Miss Lucy and Miss Nettie with you always 
so that you will not be lonely when I am gone 
and the Doctor is away. Please let me talk 
to you about these matters while I can, for 
soon I shall be too weak. I have one request 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


235 


to make of you, and I wish that you would get 
the Doctor’s consent, too. You know that my 
grandfather was anxious that his name should 
be kept with the title, and on that account I 
left off my surname. Now, I am going to ask 
you, as a great favor, if you will not let your 
little son Herbert, whom you have kindly 
called for me, take the title of Sir Hilary 
Herbert? His name could be changed as 
mine was. Please send for Mr. Parker and 
get him to write a will, just as he did for my 
grandfather, leaving everything that I pos- 
sess to your child, on the condition that he 
should bear my name. I think this matter 
should be attended to immediately, while I 
am able to sign my name.” 

“ The Doctor is coming now, Herbert.” 
Helen saw him through the window. “ I 
will ask him about the matter. Arthur, Her- 
bert wishes us to let his little namesake bear 
the title of Sir Hilary Herbert, and he desires 
that Mr. Parker should come immediately 
and make his will in favor of our child. Are 
you willing for the change? ” 

“ Certainly, if it will give pleasure to you, 
Herbert Lee,” taking his hand. “ But you 
must not think that you will die any sooner 
because your will has been made, for I have 
known persons who lived for years after- 
wards, contrary to their own expectations and 
to those of their physicians and their friends.” 


236 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

“ I am not so silly as to think that, Doctor. 
Will you send for Mr. Parker to-day, please? 
You know it may take him a few days to 
arrange his business and get here.” 

“ Certainly, Herbert, I will go to the vil- 
lage and send him a dispatch immediately.” 

“ Thank you. Doctor. Now, Miss Helen, 
will you be so kind as to call Miss Lucy? I 
wish to ask her about our friends in America. 
Ah, Miss Lucy, you must have heard me. 
Please tell me how Dr. Markham looks now, 
and all about the boys with whom I was in the 
class, and the church.” 

“ Well, Herbert, Dr. Markham is a little 
grayer and thinner than he was when you 
knew him, but his eyes beam as kindly as ever, 
and he seems to attract persons to him more 
than ever. The church has grown and im- 
proved wonderfully. They have added a 
number of pews, and they have a very sweet 
chime of bells. The Sunday-school room has 
new pictures and maps, and a larger foun- 
tain and more flowers. Your old classmates 
used to crowd around me every Sunday to 
hear about you, and they never tired of hear- 
ing about your new title, and your beautiful 
castle, and your golden coronet; and they al- 
ways ended by saying, ‘ Oh, I hope that Her- 
bert will grow well and strong like us ! ’ ” 

“ Did you ever hear what became of the 
wicked man who stole Miss Helen’s father’s 
money? ” 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 237 

“ Mr. Lawrence? Yes, I read in the paper 
that he had gotten into some trouble in Can- 
ada, and had blown his brains out with a 
pistol. ‘ The way of the transgressor is hard,’ 
Herbert.” 

“ Did Mrs. Burns stay at the poorhouse 
long? ” 

“ No,” replied Miss Lucy, laughing. “ A 
few days after you left us, she walked into 
our house and said she had gotten into a diffi- 
culty with the superintendent. ‘ An’ them 
ain’t the kind er people I’m allers used ter 
associatin’ with, nohow, an’ I jes’ ain’t er 
gwine ter stay ther’.’ We let her remain 
with us a while, and then Dr. Markham gave 
her a room at the Martha Home, and she has 
had an average of two fusses every week with 
‘ ol’ Miss Kannedy.’ Sometimes they fight 
and pull each other’s hair. But she always 
asks about you when I see her, Herbert.” 

“ What became of that pretty lady. Miss 
Laura Houston, and Mr. Wallace, who waited 
on Miss Helen when she was married? ” 

“ They followed suit a few months after- 
wards. They said that standing together be- 
fore the minister put serious ideas into their 
heads, and the engagement was made as they 
drove home from Helen’s wedding. I see Dr. 
Herndon returning, and there is another gen- 
tleman in his buggy.” 

It proved to be Mr. Parker, who had 
‘ just run down from London for a breath of 


238 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

fresh air,’ as he expressed it, and to pay a 
little visit to his brother-in-law. The will was 
written and signed in the presence of wit- 
nesses during his stay, and Herbert seemed to 
have a weight taken from his mind when the 
transaction was completed. 

“ Grandfather’s wish will be carried out, 
and the name kept up,” he said frequently. 
He loved to keep little Herbert near him, and 
it was strange to see the child so contented 
in that dark, quiet room while his brother 
was romping in the spacious grounds of the 
castle. 

Every day Herbert Lee grew paler and 
thinner, and the shadow of Death approached 
closer. Helen never left the boy’s bedside 
unless she was compelled. 

” Indulge me in this sad pleasure, will you 
not, Arthur? ” she pleaded with her husband 
when he remonstrated with her for confining 
herself so constantly as to injure her health. 
“ I love this boy so dearly that I feel as if 
when he dies a part of my heart will be buried 
in his grave.” 

Herbert seemed to be fully aware of his 
condition. He was so grateful for every at- 
tention paid to him that the entire household 
took pleasure in waiting upon him. 

“ You are all so kind to me,” he said, “ that 
I can never get an opportunity to ask for any- 
thing, for you bring it to me before I am con- 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


239 


scious that it is needed. Yet all of your ten- 
der care cannot prevent my suffering. The 
pain is excruciating, and I try so hard to bear 
it without a murmur. The end cannot be very 
far off now, and it makes me so happy when 
I think of it. Miss Helen, please try to look 
upon it as I do, as a blessed release from sin 
and sorrow and suffering.” 

Helen bowed her head. She could not 
speak. 

“ At the last. Miss Helen, will you not sing 
to me the same hymns you sang when my 
mother died?” 

“ I will, Herbert, if I can control my 
voice.” 

A short while afterwards. Dr. Herndon 
called in a physician from London in consul- 
tation. He looked at Herbert and shook his 
head. 

“ There is nothing else that can be done for 
him. He cannot live a week.” 

They thought it best to break the news to 
the boy as gently as possible. He received the 
tidings with gladness. 

“ In one week I shall be with my mother,” 
he said, clasping his hands together, “ and we 
shall be so happy there that it will seem only 
a short time until my friends join us in 
heaven.” 

Helen read and sang to him most of the 
time that remained to him on earth. During 


240 ALMOST AN ANGEL 

his last night he raised up with an angelic 
smile on his countenance. 

“Miss Helen, did you not see her? Did 
you not hear her? It was mother, and she 
said, ‘You have borne your heavy cross pa- 
tiently, my child, and I will bring you a very 
bright crown.’ ” 

He lay in a stupor the rest of the night, but 
just as the day began to dawn, Herbert smiled 
and held out his arms, and the watchers 
around his bedside were certain that the 
mother and the son clasped each other heart 
to heart. 


Two years have passed since Herbert Lee 
laid down the cross to wear the crown, and 
the flowers have been kept always fresh upon 
his grave. 

“ Sa-cred to the mem-o-ry of Sir Hil-a-ry 
Her-bert,” spells out little Arthur Herndon. 
“Why, that is my brother’s name! ‘Be — 
tho^ — faith-ful — un-to — death — and — 
I — will — give - — thee — a — crown — of 
— life,’ ” he reads from the base of a hand- 
some rustic cross surmounted by a crown. 
“ My dear mamma, why do you always cry 
when you come here to put roses on this 
grave? Aunt Lucy says that the boy who 
was buried here is now an angel in heaven.” 

“ He is, my son,” replies Helen, smiling 


ALMOST AN ANGEL 


241 


through her tears ; “ but Herbert Lee was 
once an angel on the earth, and I miss him.” 

A light, quick footstep sounded on the turf, 
and turning around, she saw her husband. 
Passing his arm tenderly around her, and 
wiping away her tears, he said: 

“ Darling, when the sunlight falls upon 
your hair, do you know, you always remind 
me of Keats’s lines in ‘ The Eve of St. Agnes,’ 
where he describes Madeline thus: 


“ ‘ She seemed a splendid angel newly drest, 

Save wings, for Heaven.’ ” 

“ Save wings, dearest,” Helen replies, with 
a mischievous smile on her coral lips. 

“ Save wings,” he answers gravely. “ Long 
may it be before you acquire them, my pre- 
cious wife.” 

“Amen!” Helen replies, softly and rev- 
erently. 






AUG 19 1908 






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